Review- The Isapuram Tales by Anita Satyajit

Book 1- The Chameleon Effects and Other Stories

Book 2- Lights, Camera, Action and Other Stories 

  BOOK SUMMARY:

Book 2- 

"Opposite game?" asked Diya. This sounded interesting. She was always interested in new games. So much fun!

Diya loves her family and friends, hates home-work, has a vivid imagination, gets into trouble, and thinks elders don't understand children! She is also super curious about everything. When her head and heart start buzzing with doubts or confusions, Diya heads straight to Baba for answers. After all, Baba is a spiritual teacher, the most respected man in Isapuram.

Lights, Camera, Action and other stories is a book about intuition, emotions, friendships, life and death. These short stories are based on the everyday lives of Diya, her friends, and their interactions with Baba.

What are the invisible ears? What happens when Diya misunderstands Biju? Can Diya understand how to deal with anger? Read the book to know more!

Release date: July 15th 2020 and January 31st 2020

REVIEW: 

What a joy it is to read children’s books!

Author Anita Satyajit has truly created something heartwarming and enjoyable with her Isapuram Tales, stories packed with fun and some important life lessons. The kind of wisdom shared in this wonderful collection of short stories is something that takes years and years to understand. To have put it in a manner that is comfortable, easy and interesting for children is something Anita has excelled at. Even for adults like me, the two books in Isapuram Tales were a walk down memory lane, providing me a good couple of hours of escape from reality but in its beautiful way, telling me all about reality itself. Not a dull moment even once, the stories in this collection are packed with love, laughter, wisdom, lessons and friendship.

Diya, like any kid, is a curious cat and wants to know all about the world. Luckily for her, the mystic Baba is her neighbour and is more than happy to impart his wisdom to the young minds. Baba’s character really stood out and was well done, in the sense that he seemed like someone we would all like to meet and know. Diya herself was a spark of positive and hopeful energy. With lessons about almost all the important things in life, explained in a way that is not only easy to understand, but also intriguing to read about, packed with some teasing and an easygoing adult-child friendship, Diya and Baba made for an amazing duo.

The best part about buying these books is that the proceeds will go to charity, which speaks volumes about the author. I would highly recommend these books not just for the cause which is resin enough honestly, but these stories are gems that I see children cherishing and finding a home in.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by Anita Satyajit in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Review- The People Tree by Beetashok Chatterjee

  BOOK SUMMARY:

Do you want to read stories that will take you to places all over this country and to faraway lands? Do you also want to read stories that will take you back in time—decades, even centuries? Then you must taste the fruit of The People Tree. Here are fourteen stories for you, a veritable potpourri of tales, each different from the other in style and substance. From the Khalistan insurgency in Punjab to a glimpse of the Mumbai underworld. From a doomed love affair in Hyderabad to a mature gay relationship. From a lifelong friendship formed in unusual circumstances to the pangs of a schoolboy crush to robbing an art museum there is something in this collection for everybody. And more. Love, loss, survival, lust, deception, greed Beetashok Chatterjee has covered them all. And more. 

Release date: July 1st 2021

Published by: Readomania

Page numbers: 192

REVIEW: 

Author Beetashok Chatterjee’s second book, The People Tree - the first being Driftwood - is a collection of fourteen short stories. Firstly, the title of this collection is so apt and creative, just like it’s cover. For a book to have a catchy title and an attractive cover is already a huge plus. To add to it, however, the contents of this book are also brilliant, which is the cherry on the cake, making The People Tree a must read.

While one story talks about a mature homosexual relationship, another talks about the relation between parents and children. Then there are stories about the Khalistan insurgence in Punjab and the 9/11 tragedy. Then there’s a story about heartbreak, one about gambling and another about a love that ended too soon. And these are only few of them. There are many more brilliant stories that are bound to keep the reader engrossed, escaping reality for a while.

All the stories in this collection take the reader on a journey that explores the entire plethora of human emotions in a manner that is relatable, simple and heartwarming. Written in a language that is crisp, easygoing and flawless makes the book even better. The only drawback with this collection is that it is too short. Author Beetashok Chatterjee’s storytelling and writing are such that they make the reader want more. There’s something truly captivating about them.

Overall, The People Tree is a lovely and brilliant collection that I see myself going back to at some point and highly recommend to all readers.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by Readomania in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Review- Beautiful Mess by Yuktha Asrani

  BOOK SUMMARY:

Whoever said you can’t have your cake and eat it too, had yet to meet Chirag Malhotra. Born into wealth and fame, Chirag has a life many could only dream of. Constantly on a winning streak with the ladies, Chirag is the most sought-after bachelor in Delhi. The unexpected strikes and Chirag is smitten from the moment a curly-haired hot mess steps out of a plane. Kajol is completely off-limits, but the sparks between them can melt glaciers.

Kajol Kapoor is down in the dumps, living a hard life in New York City. But a surprise thrown her way turns her life topsy-turvy. It just so happens that Kajol needs a favour and Chirag is more than happy to oblige. Chirag is her best friend’s brother. He is the one-man Kajol truly wants but knows she can’t have. She hopes to mask her insane attraction for him just like she had been doing in the past. As Kajol gets to know the real Chirag, she discovers there is more to the man behind the fat bank account and the Casanova image.

Would she complete her project with her heart intact, or would she give into temptation?

Release date: July 16th 2021

Published by: Self-published

Page numbers: 306

REVIEW: 

After reading and enjoying author Yuktha Asrani’s first novel, Handcuffed to Love, the sweet story of Saanvi and Sean, I was pretty excited to read her new one, Beautiful Mess. This book is the love story of Kajol and Chirag, Saanvi’s best friend and brother. The two obviously made an appearance in the first book, which- when I look back now- was just the right amount of tease for readers to be intrigued by their chemistry.

Kajol is going through a rough patch when the news of her grandmother leaving her all property hits here out of nowhere. Keen on making something of this situation, she decides to travel to Delhi from New York to work on turning the house into a BnB, with the help of her best friend’s Saanvi’s brother, Chirag. From the sweet to the sizzling scenes, Kajol ans Chirag are an instant hit. Their story is full of everything that makes a romance novel work.

Not as good as Handcuffed to Love, Beautiful Mess, in its own way, is a beautiful story of two wonderful people who take us through their amazing journey. While the book was slightly slow paced, all that was happening kind of made up for it by keeping the reader curious about what would follow. Not the biggest fan of romances, this one took me a while to finish and managed to keep me entertained. It was a good escape from reality!

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by Yuktha Asrani in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.