Ramayana - Shattered Dreams - Review

Author: Shubha Vilas
Publishers:
Genre: Mythology

Mythology is a subject which is vast and well-known. Everyone knows atleast a bit about something and has his/her own interpretation of the epic stories. I have my set opinions too.
I got my first taste of Ramayana (like most 80s kids!) from Sagar's televised version. Arun Govil is my Rama when I close my eyes. Well, the impact was huge.

So when I started reading Shubha Vilas's interepretation of Ramayana, my protogonist is stil Arun Govil :D Ramayana isnt only about Lord Rama and Sita and the villainous Ravana. It has got multitudes of mini-stories within and thats exactly what the author tries to tell us. The focus is on the main characters but then we are told about many other things that happen around.

The author tries to show us that even though the story is really old, It is very relevant in today's times too. I refrain from viewing the book as a religious one. I saw it as a book that tries to advise how life can be lived with reference to the mythological characters.

I ,particularly, am always intrigued by Sita. She is the most dutiful wife who follows her husband through everything including the exile. But still she got tempted by a deer inspite of having been warned by Lakshmana. This is very humane quality and very relatable. You can be very intelligent and smart but temptations can exist and we can be susceptible.

The key highlight for me in this book is how the author define relationships especially between the husband and wife. This delicate relationship is shown very nicely.

Rama is shown to be the leader and how a leader should be. How he makes his decisions and how he weighs his pros and cons as he makes them, are things to be learned by anyone who aspires to be a leader too.

Sita is shown as the princess who has never seen any problems in her life,always had all the luxuries in life, is suddenly faced with exile. She is suddenly thrown out of her comfort zone. How she deals with it , is an inpiration for all of us. She isnt a doormat. She doesnt do things just because she is a dutiful wife. She has a logic and reason for everything.

I also particularly like the relationship showed between Lakshmana and Urmila. Afterall, he chose to follow Rama into exile and Urmila doesnt. She also has her own reason and which is very interesting read.

Overall, the author does manage to tell an inspirational story with lot of footnotes. He doesn't get preachy or too religious which is what is expected out of any mythology read.Shubh Vilas is an spiritual and motivational speaker and the book shows it. I am thoroughly impressed by the way he puts forwards his thoughts but really doesn't seem too imposing.


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The Mahabharata Quest- The Alexander Secret Book Review

The Mahabharata Quest- The Alexander Secret
Christopher C.Doyle
Westland books









I am always wary of fiction which combines history,mythology and science with the contemporary world. I am always a cat on the fence with mythology. Who can say whether they are just stories or factual. Who can say that even if the Mahabharata occurred,the stories are over exaggerated and sometimes fantasised beyond belief.

Same can be said for history. There is no argument that Alexander existed and all that he did is well scripted.but when writers takes Liberty to weave stories from each fact they read, the line between reality and fiction blurs. Now what is true and what isn't becomes a question.

Also famous is the attempt to scientifically explain religious scriptures. Given our cynical approach to everything, we refuse to believe in divinity and look for logic in everything. Every binary makes more sense in this day and age.

I know little of Alexander and my Mahabharata is limited to the B.R.Chopra's TV serials. So I won't even get into arguing whether the author has his facts straight or not.

I find the whole biological aspect of novel, hard to digest. Too much is written and too fast to make it believable for me.

The author shows enough knowledge  to take up history ,science and mythology with authority. No doubt loads of research went into the book.

The narrative of the novel is fast paced and kept me hooked throughout the 348 pages. As the novel easily flits from 316BC to current times , the writing style doesn't tire you or confuse you.
As is my issue with many novels these days, the author doesn't spend too much time in drawing a character graph for all and hence I do t connect or empathise with the characters.
The characters are just puppets and the dead Alexander seems more alive then them. Vijay's dilemma  to save his fiancé and his ex seems to mechanical too. There was a great chance to explore the dynamics and tension between Vijay,Radha and Alice. But the author skims through that aspect awkwardly. I dont expect a soap opera amonst all the adventure but a human angle is always a good connect in a story. Isn't it? Even the killers shown to be brutal and violent, donot evoke the required emotions of fear. The emotional quotient of the book is the only drawback.

But the setup is the hero not the characters. And in that author succeeds to an extent. Mahabharata is always intriguing as it has so many characters and so many layers. Any layer taken is always interesting to delve in.
The secret of this story also is taken from one of the many interesting layers of the Epic.

I sometimes chuckle as Indian Intelligence is shown almost like the Hollywood's Indianised version of FBI. I dont know how IB operates in India but the officers dont look anything like stylish portrayal given to them in the book.

There is enough in the story to keep me thinking and also anticipate the next book in the series.

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God is a Gamer - Book Review

Author: Ravi Subramaniam
Publishers:Penguin books India
Genre: Crime Thriller

I am getting a deja vu as I read this book. I look into the archives and find the review I wrote for the author's previous book
http://www.vevisia.com/2012/11/the-bankster-by-ravi-subramaniam-book.html

I almost feel I am reading the same thing with different names and obviously different settings. We still have the banking and the financial background and now we have the additional gaming and virtual currency thrown in.

I wont boost of my gaming know-how too much but I am indirectly in this world. I can proudly say that I am game designer wife and every dinner table conversation in my house is about monetisation, gameplay ,hooks and level designing. I have seen the progess of games from console to mobile to social as my husband progressed through them all.  It is a very exciting dinner table conversation I tell you. I wouldnt ever bring my own office talk home.

Anyways, that is just to say that I can review this book with some form of knowledge in the gaming industry. I hate Zynga games and the social games overall though. I am still a AOE console player.

Coming back to the book, it is interesting to say the least. Lot of locations, lot of nationalities and loads of different characters bombard you from the get go. It isnt a simple read. You need to invest some memory to remember all the characters in the book to keep track of the fast paced events happening almost in every few pages.

The story is crisp and interesting but in most parts very predictable. But I didnt feel like putting down the book or not finishing it. I dont finish books just out of compulsion.

Enough big names and designations are thrown in with seeming ease and it kind of hooks you. The bitcoins and the cotton trail web elements are intriguing to an extent. But again almost identical to the previous book, none of the character really appeals to me. The characters run the plot but do nothing to stay on in my mind. I don't remember many names too. Maybe that is a flaw in a story which runs not on the people's perspective but on events happening around them.

The technical terms used in the book are never overwelming. Even though, I am a technical person, I dont really like books to be too heavy on technical jargon. Effortlessly, the writer takes us into the world of bitcoins , TOR , Credit card systems and social gaming and one feels totally at ease with all of them.
A reader is exposed to a new world which usually people dont know or think much about. The drug world and the cotton trail website used for drugs and prostitution actually made me think of it. I know everything can be done on the net but I never really thought of it too seriously.

Overall a good attempt but I am hoping for a fresher and new approach towards the next book Mr. Subramanyiam comes up with. I am already looking forward to it.

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Smart Phones Dumb People? Book Review

Why is there a question mark at the end of the title?

Thats the first question that came into my mind. I believe I have gotten dumber after the advent of technology. Back in the days, I used to remember 10 land-line numbers. My parents, my closed friends and some emergency numbers. Now I cant call anyone apart from my husband and my mummy even if my life depended on it.

The sentence the author writes about it the book about having so many social network connections but no friends to talk to, really is my story. I have people clamoring to like my Facebook updates but probably wont be interested if I call them to talk!The book is divided into 5 chapters ranging from Innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, priorities and corruption. I like it that way. Especially for a non-fiction, it feels better for a reader when the book itself is organised. 

The language used By Mr. Sarma is effortlessly flowing and I as a naive non-fiction reader, had little trouble understanding or at least following where the novel is headed. Obviously, the language is relatable because it isn't too refined.

Topics like Corruption which is a burning topic and everyone has a say about it. But the author handles it okay and somehow the use of technology sounds a plausible solution.

Sometimes I felt that the author is stating the obvious! The so-called smart technology and the rapid innovations happening around us, should help us to get over the very basic problems that we have in life -socially as well as at personal level. But it isn't as easy as is said? But its food for thought for sure.

I got this book back in May'2013 just before I immigrated from India to Newzealand. It was my friend during the 19 hour trip into the unknown lands. I admit not by choice but because I had no other book to take along and had no time. But I dont regret not having a choice. I had a good time reading it and I thank

PRJankari communications for giving me the book. 

Title: Smart phones Dumb People?

Author: Parthajeet Sarma

Pages:  176 pages 

Publisher: Good Times BooksGenre: Non-Fiction

Tantra by Adi - A book review

Author: Adi

Publisher: Apeejay Stya Publishing (2013)  

Genre: Black Magic/Occult/Fantasy Thriller

I have read my share of vampire stories. I have read my share of black magic stories. I haven't ever thought of them together. The vampire scene is slightly tarnished because of the twilight series. Who can think of Robert Pattison and think of anything but mush? Its difficult to think about sinister and evil now.

Anu Agarwal again the name here brings the namesake heroine into my mind. Not someone I like to think of as a vampire hunter in leather. I don't know about the boys, though! OK but its just a name. I erase the Bollywood heroine and try to create a vampire hunter in my mind. 

The first chapter fails to do anything to my imagination. India and Vampires don't get together. Somehow vampires are a more European concept for me.

But I moved on and I wanted to see whether our Indian Vampires hold any interest. But the author also cleverly knew I think that in India and in an Indian Novel, it wouldn't do much just with vampires. We have the babas and the tantras and the skulls! Now we are talking. This is where the story becomes gripping to me. As Amit, another vampire hunter from the novel, himself says its not all about vampires. Thank God for Black Magic! Frankly it scares me the most , of all the horror themes that have come up till now.

Within the mix of high funda tantra s and mantra, the poor heroine also has her own personal demons to deal with. To add to the fun, she is also subject to the matrimonial meetings that every single girl has to grow through in India.
The author doesn't really introduce or explain the Vampire Hunters worlds to us. Terms like "shift" and how the organization is structured and how kids are chosen and trained are very vaguely and loosely explained throughout the book. The universe that the author has tried to create isn't very clear in my mind.

Now what I couldn't digest in the novel is that the heroine is told she could master the astras with just chanting the mantras and meditating. I always have thought it should take years of penance, if at all possible. It almost feels that the heroine is doing the impossible.
The "Panch" and Chandra being ally to the humans sounded too familiar an idea to me,too.

About the writing, I found the sentence construction really simple and effortlessly flowing. Sometimes, I felt as though the sentences were thought of in Hindi and translated to English. The sentence construction, somehow,reminded me of how Hindi is written. 

There are a lot of threads left loose in Anu's storyline. I think, thats for the sequels or the Anu files. Do I look forward to them ? Not like the Harry Potter series or even the Twilight Series but I will read them and look for completion of the stories started in the novel.

Overall, the novel is interesting in parts. I managed to stay interested in it till the end. Though, I may not read it one more time.

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Chanakya - Book Review

Author: Pavan K Varma
Publishers:Aleph Book Company
Genre: Political Ideologies

 






First I apologize to Blogadda for a really late review.

Generally I find any idea given out to change the current Indian Political scenario far-fetched and far too unrealistic. It is not because the ideas are far-fetched or unrealistic but the scenario itself feels too complicated to change. I feel we are deep in the rut to change. 

I am reading this book a tad too late after Blog adda sent me the copy. I too in my own way, am fighting the system though at the grass root levels to get one certificate. I was too frustrated to read this book which in its preface very optimistic promises a solution. I cant digest it at the moment. I am yet to get the said certificate, by the way!

But nonetheless, I read the book. I was slightly moved. It is an achievement in my current state. I want to parcel this book to every politician out there who can read and comprehend this. ( Pun intended!)

The book aims at thoroughly addressing the problems of the country using the great Chanakya's teachings. One by one, the author tries to solve each problem majorly ones like Governance, Democracy , Corruption, Security and Building an inclusive society.

What I liked about the author's solution , is that he isn't suggesting something really radical. He himself knows too well that things cannot be changed overnight. Also, that nothing can be achieved unless the entire country of ordinary people really apply external pressure too. 

He does manage to evoke a certain level of patriotism in me , just a little bit. 

Like any non-fiction, even this one isn't something that can be read over a cuppah of coffee or at night. It requires quite bit of thought.  Obviously, I am an ordinary software engineer. Probably not the kind of audience that is required by the book to understand the real nuances the author proposes.

Security is the chapter that the author presented really well according to me. Some of the facts jarred me. The dismal scenario of police and infrastructure that the country lacks to protect itself and its citizens is disturbing. While we see attacks of terrorism in our everyday life from outside India, the author points out that the Maoist/Naxal attack could be far more threatening.Though-provoking!

Obviously Corruption is the termite that country is completely infested with. The Author does reveal some very interesting and astonishing facts regarding the same.

I want to parcel this book to some of our current rulers if possible. Maybe some if not all of the 111 ways of betterment could be implemented :) It would make for a better India,really.

This my first read from the author. I liked that even a naive reader like me could understand the complex solutions to a certain level. No.. I cannot go and implement them. But you know what I mean! I understand that these are credible and doable. Implementing isnt and shouldnt be by me.

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Beaten by Bhagat- S.V.Divaakar Book Review

Author:S.V.Divaakar
Publishers:Leadstart















Is Mr.Bhagath a credible writer? Is Mr.Salman Khan a great actor? Or is Mr.Karan Johar a great director?
Take a national survey and I am sure that more will respond affirmatively than not. Popularity exceeds Quality. Art evokes reactions so different from person to person and that’s what makes it so unique. So when someone compares different artists , I feel they are just wasting time.
Having said that Let me get to the book review (Now this is just how I felt about it)

BB is the central protagonist of the novel. He is typical MNC guy who writes well. Like even I have been told by many (I am sure not truthfully) that I write well, even he was. But unlike me, He went ahead to try and write a book. I am never really thinking of that! He seems to be a good writer. But he is constantly compared to Mr.Bhagat, his college mate, which is inevitable.

The first chapter really didn't do anything to me. I really had to push myself to get on to the next chapters. Hostel life and ragging of the freshers and smart-Alec freshers is not shown in any new way that hasn't already be done. I would have left the book at the first chapter, but I never really do so with any book, so I went ahead.

I got an insight into a writer's mind when he wants to get his work published. The hardship of getting a book from its infancy, raising it and then putting it out to the world to judge is difficult! I compare this to parenting a child as I can imagine, it must be similar.

One gets a look into the world of Indian Publishing and wannabe writers can get a few tips from the novel. I was surprised at the facts revealed about it and I think it will help to know these things.

As I read through the chapters, I could somehow see the awkwardness that was apparent in the first chapter vanish and the author becomes confident in what he wrote. I think he was much more comfortable writing about "The Sinner's course" and the publishing world than he was with the college ragging and stuff.

Overall, I like Mr. Divaakar's writing. I am looking forward to read something more interesting and gripping from him. I can see a potential in his writing. I read through the book completely even though the subject wasn't of my interest, just because his narrative wasn't boring. That is really good for a first timer, isn't it?

Spicy Bites of Biryani By Ashwina Garg Book Review

Author: Ashwina Garg
Publishers:Srishti
Genre:Romance/Chicklit

I saw in a recent episode of Grey's Anatomy where two burn victims criticize how romcoms always show that the only worry that people have is to find that perfect soulmate to spend the rest of the lives with!
Yes! It seems to be. If you find that person, most of the problems of life automatically get solved.
When I read this book too, the lead characters are looking for soul-mates. The leading heroine herself is a chick-lit writer who falls for the same trap.

The book is set in Hyderabad.Hyderabad a city I never wanted to settle in but I did. I love it now. I am now as lazy as the city is. I am a nawab. I loved the way the author has interwoven the city and its culture into the novel. I especially loved the part when she describes the labor of Hyderabad aka the Electricians, plumbers and the such Nawabzaades to perfection.

The story of the novel is simple. The narrative is simple. The writing is simple. I mean this as a compliment,mind you. Sometimes simplicity works. Here it does.

Richness exudes from every page of the book. There is no worry as far as money is concerned. So all that the characters are worried about might seem trivial and miniscule when seen in a broader sense. 

But when you read a chicklit, you never think of Economy or Bomb-blasts or Inflation, its all about the romance, candle lit dinners, champagne and wine and expensive brands.Its about all the good we think Hyderabad represents in this book. IT boom and all the software companies that have sprouted in this city are well represented too.

I didnt put down the book once I started it. I wanted to see Aditi make it to her wedding. Oh! Thats still a suspense and I guess the plot for the next novel in the series. I have met many a Sanjays in Hyderabad , the rich NRIs looking for an Andhra bride. But it was nice to see him fall for Aditi intead of arranging himself a wife.
Mayank and Jayashree and their intercultural marriage is the story of most modern day marriages these days. I myself am in such a union. Their khichdi of a marriage is fun to read and I am sure once a baby comes into the equation that will be fun to read too.
Overall, as a chicklit the book serves its purpose. It entertains while it lasts and has the consistent flow to keep the reader interested. But its a one time read as is common from this genre. I am looking forward to read the next in the series from Ashwina, for sure.

RIP by Mukul Deva - A book Review

Author: Mukul Deva
Publishers:Westland
Genre: Thriller













Yes the country is in shambles. The politicians are corrupt so much so that they reek of corruption without a doubt. There is a need for Lokpal bill to be passed. But like many waves of agitation, even Anna Hazaare wave seems to have passed without creating much more than a ripple.

Doesn't the situation seem frustrating? Don’t we all at one point or another, think off shooting off the corrupt? There lies the genesis of this book. That single thought that has crossed every single adult Indian mind, sometime or other.

We all know the names. We all know who they are and we all know what they did. So even if the author decides to name them anything, what’s in the names? I won’t quote Shakespeare as people we talk off aren't roses! 

Do I personally want this fiction to turn into reality? Do I want some real patriotic people to turn against law? Somewhere the answer is yes but I know killing a few bad men is never an answer. But the book does manage to convince me that there probably might be no other way out. In the land where Gandhi preached Non-Violence, we are heading towards violence, one ponders. I wonder if Gandhi were to be alive today, would he also see no hope in a non-violence movement.

Aah! I like it when a book evokes thoughts and debates in my mind. This book does that exactly and hence the reason why I liked it. From the first chapter itself, the book sets up a pace with 3 killings with clinical precision and execution, you cannot help but just settle down to read it till the end.
Pitted against the patriot ex-military men is a rogue ex-Para commando. He forms the flip side of the coin. Not all men serving to defend the country are loyal to the country. He is the money guy this Raghav Bhagat. The kind who would do anything for money. The kind exist lot more than the Colonel Krishna Athawale and his K-Team guys. Sad but true!

IRI or the Incredible Resurgent India, sounds too good to be true and cheesy. It’s what India probably needs . But it’s happening is fictional and is good to read in a fiction and imagine about it. But there is always that hope for the better.

The ending is positive and gripping and filled with optimism. It leaves the readers with a smile and hope. That’s a nice read , aint it? We have enough worries to worry about in real life anyways. So I am happy in a way that the author chose to end the book in the way that he did. Nothing makes me sadder than a book or a movie with a pessimistic sad ending.

Mukul Deva is a good writer; his previous work had already proved that. Yet again he doesn’t disappoint. The military-political backdrop is obviously his forte considering his own profile.
If you are an Indian, it will make you think and flare up your patriotism. Well, sure after a good night sleep, you will again go back being mundane and regular, but these surges of patriotism are good for India too. A normal average Indian like me can only say , if ever there is a party like IRI , my vote and support will go for it!

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Alchemy - A book Review

Alchemy
Publisher :  Tranquebar, Westland
Genre : Anthology, Erotica















If there is one genre I thought I never would go into, it was erotica. Typical middle class Indian girl that I am, the genre never interested me or spiked my curiosity. Obviously, I have been there, done that! But reading books or even watching movies about someone else doing it is not my cup of tea.
So when this book came up for review in Blogadda, I thought now here is something new and something I would never order off flipkart or buy at Landmark myself. Everything needs to be done at-least once in life and who knows I might enjoy it.
I love short stories. They are pacy and easier on me to read. (Try handling a 2 year old and reading a lengthy novel at the same time. It’s a task to remember where I was, each time).
 My Favourite of the short stories is 'The Marrying Kind' by Mary Anne Mohanraj. It is one of the most relatable stories. The girl has some expectations manifested probably over years of how her love life should be and the boy going beyond his boundaries to meet those expectations is what a real relationship means.
Farmer’s Daughter by Rabi Thapa is the most predictable setup for an erotica as far as I know. But the end isn’t as predictable. The master-maid fantasy is the thing that sells in this genre.
Abandon by Shrimoyee Nandini with its unexpected end was an interesting read. A couple goes to abandoned old under-construction buildings to find excitement and pleasure. After a few times, they begin to wonder if there are more people like them in these buildings and if someone is following them. Ending is unexpected and that makes for a good read.
Mouth by M.Svairini is not something I would ever imagine liking. It’s about four different types of people after a possible major change in humanity and everything going underground. Every science fiction I have ever read takes humans underground after a major catastrophe renders the Earth atmosphere unsuitable for living. That’s a cliché.
But then again my fantasies cannot be yours and yours cannot be mine. This probably aint my cup of tea!
I fail to understand erotica. I think when they say it is the most difficult to write sex, I understand where they are coming from. None of the words used really match up to the real experience. Not only am I boosting of my own experiences but what I am really meaning to say is that it’s difficult to express these emotions. So in that sense the stories fail to capture my imagination.
Otherwise the stories are interesting and read-worthy as stories, not branding them to be of certain genre.
Though I have gotten over my hesitancy to read this genre, I will still not go and buy one myself. The book or the stories haven’t really piqued my interest for the genre.

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