Book Review – It Must Have Been Love by Jigar Prajapati

This book comes as a refreshing love story which is simple yet profound. It serves you with the potpourri of love, humor, remorse, guilt, and perspectives. The plot and writing is simple yet the feeling it invokes as you read makes you wonder about the long lasting effect of love. How the love can be deadly or magical in one’s life! Since everyone wishes to have love in his/her life but at what cost is it coming to us is what this book depicts beautifully as to how it can ruin or mend one’s life. The story revolves around Maan, Kiara and Naaz. Maan married Kiara who was chosen by his parents for him. Though he was married to Kiara, he still has some feelings for Naaz.

Now the book is all about the unrequited love of Maan for Naaz, ruining his state of marriage with Kiara. Though he is physically present with her but still the thoughts of Naaz keep lingering in his mind. This confusion is what makes this book a pretty read. So, if you love such entangled love stories then this is the book you should grab ASAP!

I am rating it 4/5.

Book Review – The Different Bride by Charu Singh

Going against the mainstream, this book aptly justifies its title as well as its theme. The term “different” is not solely applicable to the title but to the plot, characters and storyline. 

Apart from being different in all aspects the central theme which dominates the whole novel is of love. The idea of love as a unifying force is what makes this novel unputdownable and lovely. 

The story revolves around Prakash and Chandrika having poles apart personalities. The language used is reader-friendly and the book is pretty captivating. 

The novel beautifully depicts the power of love in odd situations and how two different individuals come together through the power of love. This idea of love overcoming all struggles is absolutely mesmerizing. So, I must say that you should read it once.

Book Review: The Girl I Met That Night by Zahir Chauhan

It is a story of destiny and fate. It revolves around two characters – Kabir and Anamika, who meet, fall in love but are kept apart. 

The best thing about the book is that there is first person narrative and the pace is fast. You do not get bored in-between. The way of story telling is absolutely amazing as it keeps the reader on the edge everytime so that we stay engrossed. 

The storyline is unique and not the cliched type, especially the philosophical things that have been added. 

Overall a very charming love story which everyone must read.

Death Served Cold by Sourabh Mukherjee

As the title suggests, Death Served Cold is a collection of stories of cold-bloodied murders based on true incidents. These murders are all-the-more shocking because of the fact that these involve women. 

A woman, as we know, is always considered to be loving, caring and kind. Therefore, it becomes hard to imagine that a life-giving creature can also be a life-taking one. And this happens sometimes due to circumstances, greed and lust which turns her into a cruel and merciless being.

Another connecting dot for all the murders is that the convict is a close relative/friend of the victim who plotted against them. The message being conveyed here is that one should never trust anyone blindly.  The author has included references to the stories at the end of the book, for better understanding. 

The author Sourabh Mukherjee, in this book, has beautifully captured the dark side of women who not only planned these gruesome crimes but also executed them perfectly.

Not Without Your Love by Arvind Parashar

This book makes you believe in the power of true love. If you like a good romantic story against an odd background, then this is the book for you. 

The story revolves around Nooshafarin ( Noosh ) & Kabir. So,the Noosh was from Herat, Afganistan & Kabir was from Bombay ( Mumbai ), India. The two of them meet during college days in Moscow, Russia. Noosh is a Persian Girl who decides to go back to her homeland after the college & at that time the both get separated as Kabir decides to pursue his interest – Journalism. The two inseparable souls go far from each other with the promises of meeting again.

And after two years Kabir gets a chance to visit Russia for a project through his Russian Professor. Little does he know that there will be a war and he would have to fight for the love of his life. 

Full of setbacks, thrills and romance the book is absolutely unputdownable. As it’s based on a true story we can connect through each and every word. So, do give it a read.

My Better Half Forever by Arushi Vats

Romance, as a genre/concept, is always special to each individual’s heart. And there is no denying that destiny has a major role in bringing two souls together. Without us being ever aware, the universe conspires secretly and make us stand face to face with our destined partners is what keeps the unpredictability of life alive. 

This beautiful novel is a tale of two individuals who meet unexpectedly while going through a personal loss in their respective lives. Malvika has lost her brother and Rahul had to say goodbye to his dearest father. While the former suffers from anxiety and panic attacks, the latter too is carrying an emotional baggage. Both of them try to put on a strong face to meet the world and collide into each other, falling in love. They become each other’s constant support but we get to know that fate holds something different for them. They get seperated as Rahul goes abroad to pursue his higher studies. And when he comes, things change but to what degree that is what makes the suspense. 

The plot is well layered with contemporary romance genre. The narration is kept easy and simple making it a comfortable read for all. The language used is lucid. The characters are well potraited. There several characters in the plot and each has been given sufficient scope to contribute to the plot. 

A nice read I would say.

Quote of the day

Fitness Habits by Amaresh Ojha and Subhra Moitra

Health has become the top most priority these days. Due to COVID-19, people have realised the importance of maintaining good health and keeping their immunity system strong. Especially, due to lockdowns and curfew, physical inactivity has increased as we are caged in our respective homes to curb the pandemic. Hence, this book plays a vital role in educating us on how to keep ourselves fit in such dire times.

Written by two prolific fitness enthusiasts , this book serves as a guide for everyone who would want to stay healthy/fit. It covers all aspects related to health & fitness and answers our queries/doubts in a lucid manner.The language used is simple and easily understandable.The worksheets given at the end of each chapter helps in our self assessment.

We are served with many myth busters and significant pieces of information regarding our health. The book also helps us in trying to figure out what works best for our body and not running after fad diets.

An absolute great read👍

Book Review – The Panipuri Crimes by S B Akshobhya

Before talking about the plot or anything I would love to draw your attention towards the title – I mean how creative! It’s like clubbing your two favourites in one name. Clever, right?!

Now, coming to the plot – we have our protagonist, Sagar, who loves to devour panipuris. The book is all about his dream to bring all the pani puri vendors on a digital platform to sell their pani puris. But as we move ahead we come to know that all five entrepreneurs before Sagar, who ventured into the same business have died some mysterious deaths. Thus, the seeds of thrill are sowed and we, as readers, begin contemplating about those mysterious deaths as the plot moves forward. Further, the book also has some twirling love stories to give this thriller some kind of spice. The book builds good intimacy during romantic scenes and even better suspense during the other scenes.

So, all in all this book contains all the right ingredients which make up a perfect panipuri. The book is quite fast and the reader will not at all get bored except for a few scenes inbetween. It uses moderate English which makes it suitable for anyone and everyone.

Note : Panipuri is a popular street side snack in India. It is tangy, spicy, sweet and filling – making it a burst of flavours in mouth.

I would call it a tasty thriller 😉

Ratings – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Good Wizard by Prasun Roy

Wizardry has always fascinated me and it had been long since I read any such book. Thus this book – The Good Wizard by Prasun Roy – was very helpful in satiating my hunger for a magical escape. The language is pretty simple and can be comprehended easily.

The story of this book revolves around Badshah Bisht. He is a famous wizard, and the only person who can perform the dangerous “Dance of the Phoenix” act. Emperor Shah Jahan has honoured him for his acts. When a deadly disease strikes Badshah and an evil magician attacks and takes over his home, the book containing the knowledge of the celebrated act is destroyed. Now it is only saved in Badshah’s mind. Badshah sets out to find someone who can help him safeguard his knowledge, and meets 11-year-old Titli, who wishes to become the first ever female magician. With little time left, the old wizard must train the vivacious and energetic Titli within the nick of time. She is his only hope.

Both these characters are beautifully drawn and present an amazing comparison between the young and old age. Also, the character of Titli contains feministic characteristics where she can also be seen as the voice of a woman stuck in a patriarchal society. She longs to be free of the gendered duties which society has burdened her with.

And the text contains gorgeous illustrations which help in imagining the world of wizardry more vividly. Also, it appeals to all the ages, so one would enjoy it thoroughly.

Quote of the day!

Book Review – The Promises We Made by Rohan Jain

So, I have began my new year by reading this romantic novella by author, Rohan Jain. It is a classic romantic tale of two people who fall in love in the most unexpected circumstances in every way possible. They are faced with the ultimate question of how to confess their love for each other. Raj (Indian) and Sophia (German) are two students who meet in a foreign country with different cultural backgrounds but with their hearts beating for each other, irrespective of everything else. The characters are very nicely drawn and depict the kind of problems one is bound to face when people from two different cultural backgrounds meet. But all the differences become too small in front of the all-encompassing emotion called LOVE.

Second thing I liked the most about this novel is its vivacity. I have always loved reading novels with vivid descriptions; the kind of novels which stimulate my imagination and this book is sure one of them. When the protagonist, Raj, visits Switzerland, as a part of his internship program, the reader walks with him and enjoys the scenic beauty of this country. The description is so beautifully penned that you would want to pack your bags super quick and book a ticket to Switzerland.

Thus, I would sum up this book being a good one-time read. It provides you with the opportunity to experience the pangs of love along with journey of Switzerland. The plot is pretty predictable but still enjoyable.

Rating – 3/5

ANALYSIS OF THE POEM – “THE LOVE SONG OF J. ALFRED PRUFROCK” BY T.S.ELIOT

 

T.S. Eliot was a British essayist, playwright, and literary critic of the twentieth century. His poetry includes the thematic thrust of fate of selfhood in time, loss of self and threats to selfhood.

The poem – The Love Song of Alfred J. Prufrock – is about the central character Prufrock who is a middle aged balding man. He, due to his indecisive nature, fails to profess his love to his beloved. The poem is a dramatic monologue similar to Tennyson’s ‘Ulysses’. A monologue is where – a person utters a speech that implies his story and reveals his character.

Prufrock brings in the element of procrastination that to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven. It can be stated through the line:-

“And indeed there will be time

To wonder Do I dare?”

This confused nature of his of what to do and not to do can be sharply contrasted with Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’. It also states that the language is vernacular and superficial as it can’t bear the burden of meaning. Moreover, he suffers from split personality. One part of him is romantic with heroic aspirations such as ‘Prince Hamlet’, Italian painter ‘Michelangelo’ and Jesus’ greatest follower ‘Lazarus’. The other half is self deflating and calculating as he gets paralyzed with timidity, inadequacy and self consciousness. Thus, he is polyphonic in nature. Moreover, he judges himself rather than being judged by the society that highlights the issue of class and appearance. As the poem remarks:-

“To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet;

There will be time to murder and create.”

It thus unveils the idea of appearance versus reality as Prufrock cannot face the world directly and there is a need for disguise. So, I feel that the poem rather than love is a psychological journey as Prufrock is the product of his environment which is full of fear. The poem is a kind of elegy for what might have been there had Prufrock been equal to the challenges of his milieu.

It is indeed one of my favourite poems by Eliot. What are your thoughts on it?

Me before you by Jojo Moyes

The reading of this novel ended with me bawling my eyes out and itching to read it again, thinking maybe there is an alternate ending. Alas this was to no avail and I had to accept the fact that it was what it was. The writer Jojo Moyes forces her readers to believe in all the situations that she creates in this amazing book and makes them reach the point where they find it hard to read, given that their eyes are filled with tears.

This is a love story which shows us the bravery and the effort needed to get our lives back on track after it has been pushed off the course. The book starts somewhere in 2009 where Louisa Clark, a 26 year old, clumsy, happy, working-class girl gets the job as the care taker of the rich, grumpy and witty Mr. Will Traynor. After a tragic accident, he has been left a quadriplegic for two years. It is this condition that puts him in depression and his mother in a desperate need to get him out, hence she hires Louisa.

Lousia- the girl who lives in a windowless room in a sleepy market town, robbed of her confidence to live life. When she finally meets with Will- the once lively man…. they both go through a roller coaster of emotions as they teach each other the parts of life that they both lack respectively.

In this course of the story not only do Lou and Will fall in love with each other but they also bring the reader to fall in love with the purity of their love. Somewhere in between the antics of Louisa, the foreign films they watch and the books they read together we lose ourselves completely and embark upon a journey filled with life lessons, laughter and tears.

I recommend this book to everyone who can get their hands on it.

Book Review – Home by Manju Kapur

Manju Kapur is perhaps one of those few writers in modern India, whose stories can convey and express, some of the most complicated human emotions in a beautiful simplistic prose. Home is another one of Manju Kapur’s masterpieces, others being – Difficult Daughters, A Married Woman, etc. In what has become characteristic Manju Kapur style, Home is a tale which weaves an enchanting tale of survival and hope from a host of complicated and often disturbing themes ad sub- plots.

The narrative of the book is built around the life and experiences of Nisha, the only granddaughter of a traditional, merchant family of Karol Bagh. Although Nisha remains the main protagonist throughout the book, the tale in the story is of more than three generations of the Banwari lal Family. The novel discusses and brings to light a number of issues which continue to exist in “modern India” from caste, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, female education, objectification of women, but the main focus of the novel, in characteristic Manju Kapur style, remains Marriage and family. The sensitivity with which the author captures the stigma of Barrenness and desperation of a child is worth applauding.

The believable characters, with their relatable struggles and dilemmas combined with the eloquence and grace of Kapur’s writing make this novel capable of transporting one back to the 1990s and adds to the charm of a tale which is already fantastic , in its scope and narrative. At the end of the book, one feels connected to each and every character of the novel., and while one does feel disappointed and frustrated at a number of characters and events, there is no “villain” at the end of the novel. Home very accurately captures the very spirit of upper Middle class Delhi while exposing the hypocrisy and confusion of “family values” in modern urban India.

All in all, if you enjoy realistic portrayals of families and characters then this is one book that you should definitely read .

Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult

Imagine someone you love dearly. Now imagine that this person is sick and dying, and the life he lives is too painful to be worth it. So much so that you know for a fact that this person, if he was well enough to say it, would beg for death himself. Now if you had the choice to grant this…….would you do it? Would you be able to let him die or would you not? And would you be more selfish if you let him go, or if you keep him in that perpetual state of misery because you are too attached to give him up?

Questions like these do not have answers. The reason is that none of us are willing to think about them until we have to. This is what happened in the life of Luke Warren. The man who ran with the wolves (literally). He was an adventurer, too wild to have lived an ordinary life. Ironically though, not these adventures but a car accident put him in a coma one unfortunate night. The real tragedy however is what happens to his family next, as they have to decide whether to let him go off the ventilator or keep him in that vegetative state. Fully aware of the fact that he would never want a life like that, his family still cannot decide if they are ready to let him go.

This brilliant novel is yet another masterpiece by Jodi Picoult where she deals with the ultimate question of true love and loyalty- are you willing to sacrifice your love for your love? This tear-jerking and heart-wrenching novel is sure to leave its readers in a state of emotional trauma and purification.

Hence, I recommend it to everyone who has a strong enough heart. Personally, I fell in love with how well Picoult expressed human feelings and cannot wait to read more of this authors brilliant penmanship.

The Dog who healed a family- Jo Coudert

They say soul mates come in all shapes and sizes. Tall, short, fat, skinny and sometimes even with four legs and a furry tail.

‘The dog who healed a family’ is a book of nineteen short stories about our furry friends and how these animals are more like us than we give them credit for.

It is a beautiful book that re-establishes the honest and unconditional relationship we have with our friends from the animal kingdom. It is a relationship that unfortunately we seem to have long forgotten, however these touching short stories remind us and take us right back to it.

Whether it is the story of the dog who brought together a family of adopted children, the talkative parrot who brought new meaning to the life of a widow or that German shepherd who comforted the sick and the lonely, every story in this ‘treasure’ of a book, leaves the reader happy and sad at the same time. Happy because of the love these creatures get into our lives and sad because we realise how ignorant we have become of that love.

I recommend this book to both animal lovers and those of us who are not particularly fond of them so that they become animal lovers too. It is literally impossible for anyone to not to fall in love with both this book and its protagonists.

We live in a world these days that has no time for love and compassion anymore. People have become so busy in their daily races that we have left humanity behind. Stories like these help us stop and look at what is really important and they help us realise the significance of these friends in our lives.

Haiku Thursday

The bubblegum sky

with its’ cotton candy clouds

is looking yummy.

Haiku Thursday

“I feel alive when

the ocean waves touch my feet

and tickle my toes.”

Haiku Thrusday

Like a breath of fresh

air she filled the surroundings

With power and joy.

An Abundance of Katherines – John Green

Colin Singleton is a child prodigy. Colin Singleton owns ten thousand dollars from a game show that he won. Colin Singleton only dates girls named Katherine. . Colin Singleton graduated High School as a straight-A student. On his graduation, Colin Singleton got dumped by his 19th Katherine.

An abundance of Katherines is another classic John Green book dealing with typical human emotions at the disastrous, evil age of teenage hood.  In this tale, Green introduces us to a guy called Colin. All his life Colin had been the intelligent kid. His parents were ever-proud of his accomplishments, however after his nineteenth breakup, his life goes haywire. Not only does Colin start getting depressed over his lack of successful relationships, he also starts doubting his future as he realises he is no longer a child prodigy. 

So what can one do, when one reaches a stage of midlife crisis while he is still young? There is only one answer. Road trip. With his ‘Judge Judy-loving best friend’ Colin decides to take a break from everyday life and go to an unknown destination.

Just like your average road trip story, ‘an abundance of Katherines’ is a crazy, wild and funny story full of adventure and fun that the protagonists have. Colin in his journey meets new people and begins to realise his the only way to solve his identity crises would be to come up with a revolutionary mathematical theorem of figuring out if two people can end up together (If that doesn’t spell NERD I don’t know what does!). With this theorem he not only aims at becoming famous and important again but also finally dealing with his relationship issues.

With new paces and friends, Colin manages to get the time to finally deal with his life crisis. Though this story follows Green’s ‘typical’ teenage-misery track, it still does not fail to make us smile and enjoy ourselves. For any Green fan this story is a must read, and for the non-fans, its great first book.

Haiku Thursday

These raindrops falling

From the sky are caressing

My body gently.

Haiku Thursday

The sunflowers are

Smiling from ear to ear and

Are welcoming me.

A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie

Hola people!

I hope you must be in good health. In these tough times I can proudly admit that “reading is therapeutic”.

So, I just finished reading another classic from the “Dame” Agatha Christie and Ia m absolutely thrilled to write this review.

I have read books with Mr. Poirot as a detective but had never read one with Miss Marple. And this book – A Murder is Announced” features Miss Marple as the detective.

The book starts with an announcement of a murder. There is an advertisement in the Gazette that a murder is to take place at Little Paddocks (Ms. Letitia Blacklock’s) house at 6:30pm on October 29 and the whole village is invited to see it.

It seems like an odd ad and people think, including Letitia herself, that it’s some kind of a game that somebody had arranged. So, everybody goes at Ms. Blacklock’s place to see what is it. Now, when the clock strikes half past six, all the lights go out, a man with a torch comes and fires thrice. When the lights come back, we get to know that Miss Blackock’s ear is bleeding and this man is lying on the ground dead.

The man turns out to be Rudi Scherz, a Swiss guy working at a hotel. This whole scenario looks a lot confusing and surprising to everybody as who might want to kill Ms. Blacklock and then eventually would shoot himself?

When the sheriffs dig a lil deeper into Ms. Blacklock’s past they get to know that she worked for a tycoon who left all his wealth in her name. The conditions are that she will get the money after the tycoon’s wife dies or if Ms. Blacklock dies first then all the money would go to Pip and Emma, the children of tycoon’s sister.

Miss Marple aids to solve the case and the novel gets all the more interesting by each passing page. Christie make sures that readers find it hard to put the book down.

There are around 20-25 characters and each of them has a vital role to play. The suspense continues till the end and when it is revealed, it comes as a huge surprise.

I would definitely recommend this book to my readers.

My Rating – 5/5

Haiku Thursday

A night full of stars

Wraps the sky to keep it warm

And cozy till dawn.

Book Review – Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

So, this book revolves around Cath and Wren, two identical twins who were inseparable until they went to college. While Cath still feels dependent on Wren and wants to spend as much time as possible together, Wren feels that it’s time that the two went their separate ways and found people to hang around with. Cath’s an introverted writer who spends most of her time in her room, writing fan-fiction while Wren’s an extrovert who likes to party and get drunk. Both of them had been Simon Snow’s fan but Wren wants to move out of this fangirl bubble while Cath is still inside it.

Since Wren doesn’t wishes to be Cath’s roommate so Cath has a new roomie. Her roommate Reagen, a character I personally loved, is a total badass who couldn’t care less about the world, their friendship is one of the most precious relationships in the book. It may not be the most obvious one, but it’s amazing. Cath initially has a hard time getting out of her room and has absolutely no friends, but as the story proceeds, Cath makes heartfelt connections which made me smile so much throughout. Cath’s an over thinker, she probably over thinks about over thinking if you ask me, but she’s the nicest character. The kind you want to put in a glass box so nobody could hurt her. The relationships portrayed in the book are probably the best part about it, for me at least. And not just the romantic ones, the one between Cath and her father, the one between Cath and Wren, even the non-existing full of resentment relationship Cath had with the mother who abandoned her.

When I started college, I had the same worries as Cath, about not knowing anyone, about being all alone, about what to do and where to go, it’s such an honest, well written story that I can’t help but think about how much I liked it.

That being said, I do feel that sometimes, Cath’s character was just a little too whiney, like a child who refuses to grow up but well, aren’t we all children who just don’t want to grow up either?

I give this book a 4/5.

Haiku Thursday

Little drops of dew

Glowing like pearls of wisdom

On the fresh green leaves.

P.S. – I have decided to begin a Haiku series in which I will post one haiku every Thursday. Also, if you like, you too can submit your haiku to me. I will feature your haiku on my blog with due credits 🙂

Mail – novelacious@gmail.com

What is God’s Will? by Anonymous

It is a beautifully written poem about what God actually wants from us, humans.

Haiku of the Day

Moonlight shines so bright,

Like the halo of the sky.

Such a pretty sight.

Author of the Day – Guy De Maupassant

On an ordinary, hot afternoon I found a book titled “Popular French Stories”. It was by an unknown publisher and had a very ordinary looking cover. Peering inside, I found a plethora of stories so strange my fifteen-year old brain couldn’t comprehend it and I put the book down. Years later, I sat down on an ordinary,hot afternoon and read the book again. It was at this point that I stumbled upon Guy De Maupassant and his brilliant brand of realism. One of France’s greatest poets, De Maupassant was the greatest of all French realists.

Guy De Maupassant was born on August 5^th ,1850 near Dieppe, France. When Maupassant was 11 , his parents legally separated. His mother was a strong independent woman and she was an influential figure in his life. He was the godson, friend and an apprentice of the great Gustave Flaubert. Flaubert acted as his literary guardian and helped him make his debut in the world of writing. He met Emile Zola and Russian Novelist Ivan Turgenev as well as many others. His two hundred short stories depict the pessimist that he was and his dark, gloomy side. He wrote over three hundred short stories and six novels.

His stories have a cynical air to it. Even though his stories and opinions were based on realism, ultimately he lost his life to madness. He died at the age of 43 in an the private asylum of Esprit Blanche at Passy, in Paris.

Why I love De Maupassant is because his stories are just simply brilliant. They describe human nature in a subtle, indescribable way. Take his first work ‘Boule De Suif”. It revolves around the hypocrisy of human nature and peer pressure. De Maupassant had indeed researched human nature thoroughly.

The way it’s been written is no surprise why this story made De Maupassant instantly famous.

Another favorite of mine, “The Necklace”, is a gem of a story. It revolves around the greed of  human being and what a fake façade can do to a person’s life.

“Useless Beauty” is also another story with a wickedly humorous ending.

Human beings were never made out of sugar, spice and everything nice. They were made imperfect, devious and fickle. His stories are a thorough display of the what makes a human so vulnerable and unpredictable.

My 10 Favourite Quotes by Sophocles

Sophocles was one of the most famous and celebrated Greek dramatists with the other two being Aeschylus and Euripides. He wrote over 100 plays and the best known till date is Oedipus the King. Following are the 10 of my favourite quotes by Sophocles.

Without labor nothing prospers.

Success is dependent on effort.

I would prefer even to fail with honor than win by cheating.

Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud.

A lie never lives to be old.

One word frees us of all the weight and pain in life. That word is love.

There is no sense in crying over spilt milk. Why bewail what is done and cannot be recalled?

There is no witness so terrible and no accuser so powerful as conscience which dwells within us.

The gods plant reason in mankind, of all good gifts the highest.

Kindness is ever the begetter of kindness.

Strange

Isn’t it strange how we fall out of love?

How nothing but everything changes?

You look back to see how you fell in love

only to realise its nowhere in present phases.

The person you loved once unconditionally,

doesn’t appeal to you now.

As if he acts differently.

The connection is missing, your conscience doesn’t allow.

His eyes are cold, his talks are blabber,

the touch is lost

and the arguments are a dagger!

But in fact he is the same.

You are the same.

Just your love isn’t the same!

And you know its strange!

Those pricey Thakur Girls by Anuja Chauhan

ABCD. These are the first four letters in the alphabet and the first four letters of the charismatic bunch of the four sisters in Anuja Chauhan’s book, “Those Pricey Thakur Girls”. Meet the Thakur girls, Anjini, Binita, Chandralekha and Eshwari. Anjini is the oldest sister who is married,without children, to a boring banker. Binita is the mother to twins and devoted wife to her beloved Vickyji. Debjani is the news reporter on India’s favorite news channel. Eshwari is a schoolgirl.

Anuja Chauhan’s novel may have the words, “Thakur Girls” in it but the story mainly revolves around the love life of Debjani.  Chick lit is a genre explored by many authors but seldom do they make the characters strong and interesting. Chauhan has done that through the portrayal of  these sisters who each have their own raucous persona. Debjani is the news reader for a television channel. She falls for the dashing yet cynical Dylan Singh Shekawat. How their love story blossoms is one aspect of this book.

The author has a surprisingly refreshing style in writing this book. The characters banter and their opinions on everything is hilarious. The book also focuses on the emergency period in India and the perils of  being a journalist.

Each character has its own specialty and they all come together to give it a light yet sassy flavor. This book is well-written and is surely a time-pass activity. Any chick lit fan should read it. I would give it a 3.5/5 as it has scope for a more empowering story yet it fails to do that. It is humorous and entertaining at the same time. Go grab a copy today!

Our Love Affair!!

How unexpectedly life takes turn,
making all decisions worth!
Like a shooting star you fell into my lap
with beaming optimism and jazzy claps.

That first eye contact is still continuing
Your magic of touch is still worth pursuing.
I can’t get enough of your talks
Everything is enchanting from your voice to our datenight walks.

I found in you a reflection of me
Your arrival tickled the half-slept child in me
Baby, sweetheart, and darling were just some words till now
Your affection, your love made these words sound wow!

The very initials of your name bring a broad smile on my face
My lips instantly start craving for your mouth’s taste.
We have shared an unstoppable kiss
whose power carries a pure bliss.

I don’t know how far this bond will go
I don’t know how bright our memories will glow
I just know we love, we laugh, we fight, we tease, and we care
Falling hard for each other every time and keeping alive our love affair!

Multiple Role Plays Of Language

We use language to communicate our feelings, our emotions, the thoughts swinging in our minds, etc,etc. It is such a helpful tool that a human has discovered to convey his/her feelings towards others. 

We all speak different languages like- French, Spanish, Italian, Latin,and a thousands of others, but the common thing is that though we use different words our ultimate goal is to convey what we feel. Those who are not good at expressing, find themselves comfortable in penning down their emotions.

But, language also depends on who is interpreting it ( Give it a thought!!)

Language plays multiple roles- deceptive, elusive, disguised and etc.

Many scholars have used language as codes to be decoded by their followers only or have painted scriptures with hidden messages in them or even geometrical figures with some kind of secrecy in them, which all contributes to the fact that we all have been using language as a kind of shield to protect our real thoughts underneath. Let us say, play writers like – Shakespeare or Chaucer or Marlowe or Homer – writing things but meaning something else, which we studying deeply could understand the profundity with which they have been written.

One person decipher the language according to his/her own favourable conditions. Don’t we do that all the time? We just decipher it in whatever we wanna decipher it. For ex- A friend saying to us sarcastically, but we misunderstanding it and taking it as a compliment instead. So, what does it show? It shows that whatever our ” I ” wants to accept is that what we see from our “EYES”.

So, all my point is that when we carefully peel out the layers, we come across the real meaning, then only we get to know how beautiful this invention of LANGUAGE is. Some people using the language so loosely while other using it so carefully ( choosing words carefully).

It becomes a positive tool when the man knows it’s value and could even influence people with his/her words. 

I must say, the art of writing or even speaking is really a gift to certain people by God.

“Some can create big wonders with this tool while some, blunders!!”

The Crusader by Randeep Sisodia

This book talks about how Modi again won in 2019 elections after his mammoth victory in 2014 elections. The author gives a somewhat factual account of things which led to Modi’s win along with doing a comparative analysis between Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi. The book gives an insight into political activities from which one can learn a lot about the functionings of politics.

The book beautifully presents an analytical view of how Modi won people’s trust which ultimately led him to his victory path. Undoubtedly, it is a well researched book where you get to know the salient features and the essence of how a politician wins the trust of people. The writing style is very good and comprehensive.

However, I can’t certainly say that it is the book of truth as it is also coming from a biased point of view towards one party. There are few incidents where it is pretty evident that the author is favouring one party and not telling about the wishes of the masses.

Therefore, I can sum up by saying that politics is never an easy topic to write about. One has to be extremely neutral when discussing about politics and politicians. So, one can’t really make judgements without listening to the other side of the story.

All in all- a good read