Review- Birds of Prey by Archana Sarat

Birds of Prey on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

You wake up, parched and famished, at the bottom of a deep well—dark and dingy with the foul smell of excreta and rotting scars and no seeming way to escape—what do you do?
This is the predicament that ex-ACP Anton Pinto faces when he reluctantly joins the investigation into the mysterious disappearances of men from affluent families of Mumbai. There is an inexplicable pattern behind the abductions and all suspicions point towards an old, physically-challenged, mysterious lady. Soon, Anton discovers that the seemingly unrelated men have one common link—the most popular and expensive international school in Mumbai.
Following clues that span from schools and old-age homes to illegal dingy hospitals, Anton is led through a labyrinth of incest, abuse, torture and suffering, spanning decades.
What secret does the school hide behind its gates? What was the undisclosed crime that is thirsty for justice? Will Anton be able to save the men? Will justice be served? 

Release date: November 1st 2016

Published by: Readomania

Page numbers: 192

REVIEW: 

It was, I believe, a year or two ago, when I probably read my last David Levithan book, that I read a book in one sitting. But once I picked up Birds of Prey and got into, I could not stop. It is such a fast-paced, engrossing, irresistible and thrilling read that I found myself finishing it in one dat itself, which is something that doesn't happen very often with me.

Posing as a contrast to what I just said, Birds of Prey was unputdownable, yes, but at the same time, every chapter, especially during the first half of the book, was so deep, depressing and devastating, that I found myself putting the book aside just to comprehend and digest what I just read. This book has so many feelings and emotions in it that it gets too much at times and all you want to do in such times is to just leave it all aside and try to understand.

There is such meticulous character-designing and development in this book that it's admirable. To top it all off, it is a brilliantly worded book. When I figured out the mystery on my own in the first quarter of the book itself, it was the writing that kept me going, because it was just so damn perfect, sharp and crisp. Author Archana Sarat delivers an absolutely well-written and flawless book.

Coming to the story of Birds of Prey, it was predictable but it was so well done and so well made. I don't really see a hero and a villain in this book, because every side was understandable. But the most interesting part of this book is that way in which it addresses an issue and a problem so important that it really makes you contemplate. Some of the gory descriptions get very uncomfortable sometimes, but this book is only trying to tell the truth.

I have barely read half a dozen books so far this year, but without any hesitation, I am able to say that Birds of Prey has been the most interesting and absorbing I've read, not only this year, but in quite some time now. I am falling short of words to describe how great this book is, which tells the story of both nice and bad people who make this world what it is.

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

Buy the book: AMAZON

Review- Cobalt Blue by Sachin Kundalkar

Goodreads Summary:

Sachin Kundalkar started on his first novel at 20 and finished it when he was 22. The novel was Cobalt Blue, the story of a brother and sister who fall in love with the same man, and how a traditional Marathi family is shattered by the ensuing events – a work that both shocked and spoke to Marathi readers. 

“Thankfully, no one calls it a gay novel anymore. That term is so passé. Now about 12 years later, I feel the brother and the sister are not two people but masculine and feminine sides of the same person. And the book is thus, in turns, a feminine and a masculine monologue,” says the author.

REVIEW:

I came across this review of author Sachin Kundalkar's Cobalt Blue when I was searching for some absurdity-themed Marathi novels, and I was completely intrigued by the sound of it. Cobalt Blue may not have anything to do with absurdity, but it sounded so good to me. For quite some time now, I had my eye on the book, and I was excited to pick up and read the English edition of the Marathi novel translated by Jerry Pinto. Even though it's my mother-tongue, I am not the most comfortable reading in Marathi, and this book has really made me want to step out of my langue comfort zone and read the original. Somewhere, when I came across Cobalt Blue, I knew that the book would be amazing, and I can proudly say that it was just that- simply and purely amazing. There are many aspects of this book that can be contemplated over deeply and discussed thoroughly, but that would be lengthy and time consuming, so I will just write about its amazingness, taking into consideration the points I feel are the most important. 

What I loved the most about Cobalt Blue- and I'm being biased here- is that it's set in my very own, lovely and incredible city of Pune where there is a peaceful and easy coexistence of tradition and modernity. I loved exploring my own city through the book, and was astounded when a shop that belongs to a family friend was mentioned. The story takes place in a simple Maharashtrian family of two brothers Aseem and Tanay, a sister Anuja and their parents. Whilst here, I would like to stress on Jerry Pinto's retention (of which he speaks in the Translator's Note) of some Marathi terms that can be translated, but sound more authentic and convincing when used the way they are. I, for one, found it very normal and nice. The Joshi family open up a room in their house for a paying guest. That's when the person whose name we do not get to know until the very end (what admiration I have for Mr. Kuldarkar), but who plays the most significant role in the story, comes into the lives of Tanay and Anuja, who are fascinated by the carefree, dashing, independent and quirky personality of their paying guest. 

The first half of Cobalt Blue is a second person naration where Tanay directly addresses the paying guest, while the second half of the book is from Anuja's point of view where she narrates her journey with the paying guest. That brings me to another thing that I loved about the book, and that is the simultaneity of a heterosexual and a homosexual relationship. Although the two relationships are the focus of the book, sometimes, it seemed to me like the story was more about the Joshi family, wherein everyone knows one another, but no one really understands each other. It's so good that I can't even describe how well everything is done. That aside though, Cobalt Blue is not about discovering, accepting or exploring sexuality, it's about embracing it. In a very conscious and subtle way, the author keeps the family on one side entirely and the two love struck siblings on another side. The consequences of both the relationships are devastating and let me get one thing straight- I had been waiting to read a book like this for so long. A book where things left unsaid, remain unsaid. A book where things left undone, remain undone. It was astounding and so very amazing. 

There is something so intriguing and mysterious about Cobalt Blue that I wanted to read it so bad and once I began reading it, I didn't want it to end. But honestly, like I said before, I was waiting for a book like this and I'm more than glad I finally stumbled upon it. Seriously, Cobalt Blue has proved to me that Marathi literature is so precious and there are so many gems to be discovered. On a purely personal level, I don't like to shout out about the books that I loved and find special. But something about Cobalt Blue makes me want to take up the job of letting people know about its beauty and just thrusting the book (even if it's my very own and henceforth treasured copy) in their hands just so they know how beautiful it is. The story is amazing. The writing is amazing. The translation is amazing. The book is simply amazing. 

RATING:

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Love, Films and Rock 'n' Roll by Swayam Ganguly

Summary-

Fate throws together three young men travelling on a train from Jamshedpur to Kolkata. 
Sunil is a graduate from FTII who wants to make a mark in Tollywood by directing his first feature film. 
Sameer aka Sam, is a software professional working in Silicon Valley. 
Dipankar aka Dipsy, decides to focus on music after being expelled from IIT on a false charge of peddling drugs.
Dilemmas, disillusionments and desires blend to tell their tales in this delightful novel,which although reflective of the carefree ways and the fun loving spirit of the younger generation also attempts to encourage them to incorporate the sense of values which are synonymous with our Indian culture.
And they bind one and all through Love, Films and Rock n Roll!

Review-

Love, Films and Rock n Roll is the story of three young men who unexpectedly form a friendship while travelling together on a train from Jamshedpur to Kolkata. The story shows what's happening with each person and moves forward. I really enjoyed the book as it was different from what I usually read.

Sunil is a graduate from FTII. He wants to direct quality films in Tollywood. We see his journey where he learns from his experience on the sets of a movie. I really liked Sunil. He was a nice, hardworking guy trying to work in the business. I loved his story with Tanya. The long distance relationship they have in no way deters them from being together in the end.

Then there's Sam who's come back to get an arranged marriage. I think I liked his story the best of all. Sam was a fun guy with wit and sense of humor. It just so happens that he falls in love with Sonali, the matchmaker who's supposed to find him a bride. Sonali and Sam were great together and independently. I wish we'd gotten more of them.

And last but not the least there's Dipsy. He's a musician trying to make big with his band. There is ton of stuff about the Baul culture in his story. Here is where I have a slight complaint. The author has gone very in depth where this is concerned. It was interesting but the too many details dragged his parts a bit for me. I wanted to know more about Dipsy himself and his issues.

Love, Films and Rock n Roll is filled with abundance of all three. I loved how the author incorporated song lyrics in the way the guys thought and spoke. That was fun. The pace of the book is nice. The writing is easy and engaging. Though a little predictable, Love, Films and Rock n Roll made for an enjoyable read.

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

About the author:

Swayam Ganguly is a media professional and creative consultant who has worked extensively in Bangalore and Mumbai and is currently based in Kolkata. Apart from writing fiction, the author has also worked on abridged versions of novels and other content for different publishers. He is also the Creative Director, Content, for the website of the Mumbai-based online toy store called Yellow Giraffe. He has an avid interest in music and films and has directed the popular award-winning, regional band hunt reality show called ‘Band E Mataram’.

Buy Links:

Flipkart   HomeShop18   Amazon   Infibeam

Alchemy Publishers Links:

Website   Twitter   Facebook

GIVEAWAY:

Now for the giveaway guys, Alchemy Publishers has been super generous. They're giving away FOUR copies of Love, Films and Rock 'n' Roll by Swayam Ganguly to four lucky winners from India.

So, go forth and participate from the rafflecopter below. May the odds be ever in your favor!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks guys!

Happy reading :)

Review- Love, Films and Rock 'n' Roll by Swayam Ganguly

Summary-

Fate throws together three young men travelling on a train from Jamshedpur to Kolkata. 
Sunil is a graduate from FTII who wants to make a mark in Tollywood by directing his first feature film. 
Sameer aka Sam, is a software professional working in Silicon Valley. 
Dipankar aka Dipsy, decides to focus on music after being expelled from IIT on a false charge of peddling drugs.
Dilemmas, disillusionments and desires blend to tell their tales in this delightful novel,which although reflective of the carefree ways and the fun loving spirit of the younger generation also attempts to encourage them to incorporate the sense of values which are synonymous with our Indian culture.
And they bind one and all through Love, Films and Rock n Roll!

Review-

Love, Films and Rock n Roll is the story of three young men who unexpectedly form a friendship while travelling together on a train from Jamshedpur to Kolkata. The story shows what's happening with each person and moves forward. I really enjoyed the book as it was different from what I usually read.

Sunil is a graduate from FTII. He wants to direct quality films in Tollywood. We see his journey where he learns from his experience on the sets of a movie. I really liked Sunil. He was a nice, hardworking guy trying to work in the business. I loved his story with Tanya. The long distance relationship they have in no way deters them from being together in the end.

Then there's Sam who's come back to get an arranged marriage. I think I liked his story the best of all. Sam was a fun guy with wit and sense of humor. It just so happens that he falls in love with Sonali, the matchmaker who's supposed to find him a bride. Sonali and Sam were great together and independently. I wish we'd gotten more of them.

And last but not the least there's Dipsy. He's a musician trying to make big with his band. There is ton of stuff about the Baul culture in his story. Here is where I have a slight complaint. The author has gone very in depth where this is concerned. It was interesting but the too many details dragged his parts a bit for me. I wanted to know more about Dipsy himself and his issues.

Love, Films and Rock n Roll is filled with abundance of all three. I loved how the author incorporated song lyrics in the way the guys thought and spoke. That was fun. The pace of the book is nice. The writing is easy and engaging. Though a little predictable, Love, Films and Rock n Roll made for an enjoyable read.

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

Review- Happy Birthday! by Meghna Pant

Goodreads Summary: 

Happy Birthday! (Random House, India) is a beautifully written, compelling and emotionally intelligent collection of short stories by award-winning novelist Meghna Pant. These finely nuanced stories provide a rare glimpse into the complex and mysterious inner lives of human beings.

Happy Birthday! has also been voted the TOP title on Flipkart’s editors picks for this month: http://www.flipkart.com/books/~editor...

A dedicated friend undertakes one last labour of love for a childless woman. Nadia - married into money - finds herself facing uncomfortable truths about her comfortably numb marriage. A Mumbai slum-girl dreams of speaking words valuable enough to be translated into English. An American tourist seeking nirvana sets off a sudden chain of events when his bag is stolen, and destiny plays her hand. A retired civil servant of modest means struggles to support his snooty foreign-returned daughter.

Meghna Pant’s knife - sharp stories are compelling, emotionally intelligent and provide a rare glimpse into the strange workings of the human heart. They evade neat categorization and
are the perfect read for all curious spirits.

REVIEW:

*NOTE: We (The Readdicts) received a copy of Happy Birthday! by Meghna Pant from the author herself in exchange for an honest review. We thank Meghna for the book!  

It is not everyday that you get an email from an author personally inviting you to their Book Launch Event. Janhvi and I were elated to receive an email from author Meghna Pant to join her in launching her latest book, Happy Birthday! in our city. Not one to miss any bookish event, we went there and it was really nice to meet Meghna not just that one time but a couple of times later as well. 

I was happy when the author gave us a copy of her book in exchange for a review and I am even happier now that I have read the book.I always worry about reading a book after meeting the author thinking that I'll be partial to it. Turns out, I had nothing to worry about. Happy Birthday! in itself was amazing.

Happy Birthday! is a collection of thirteen absolutely enthralling and real short stories. These are stories about people who exist amongst us but we prefer to pretend like they don't exist. These are stories about feelings all of us experience but we are too scared to express. They are essentially raw, concrete, genuine and actual. They are so emotionally powerful that I found myself closing the book after every story and actually feeling nothing and everything all at once. And that, for me, is the best connect and feeling a book can give the reader. The only part better than this was the apt and intelligent title given to each story and how each balloon on the cover has some significance to it. 

Predominantly set in Mumbai, in thirteen stories, we move from the slums to the Parsi colony to the prostitute lanes to the posh societies of the fascinating city. Unlike most of India, I am not at all a regular Mumbai visitor but I believe I know the city enough to picturize everything and for those things that I didn't know, I was both horrified and glad to learn. I must admit that I didn't quite get every little detail but I loved reading it anyways. 

Author Meghna Pant's writing is simply amazing. I loved it so much. Her words have a beautiful flow to it, like a pretty flowing river. After having read many short stories, I feel that they end in a way that doesn't satisfy the reader but Meghna's stories- although they don't end concretely- ended in way that had me feeling content.

Happy Birthday! was exactly the kind of book I like with exactly the kind of stories that I devour. It is an amazing read that is full of emotions, feelings, grit, reality and beauty. This is easily one of the most memorable Indian reads I have read till date. This book is good and right in every possible way. 

RATING: 

Review- Lady, You're Not A Man by Apurva Purohit

Summary-

Todays woman wants to make a success of both family and career and is unwilling to compromise on either. But the burden of coping with deadlines, recalcitrant children, lazy husbands, difficult bosses and equally difficult in-laws can be daunting, even overwhelming. In this book, Apurva Purohit, CEO of Radio City 91.1 FM, shows how women can accept, adapt and achieve their way to the highest rung in every arena. Through real-life stories and funny anecdotes, she provides pithy tips on a multitude of topics: from training husbands to training interns, from the right attitude to getting it right with kids, from dealing with household crises to office emergencies, from building a reputation to paving ones way to the top. Warm, witty and empathetic, Lady, Youre Not a Man! is a must-read for every woman on the quest for work-home balance and determined to succeed in her career and live a happy and fulfilling life.

Review-

Lady, You're Not A Man by Apurva Purohit looks like a read that I would usually not go for. At all, actually. But as I read the book I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a very unique book and so easy for a woman to relate to.

The book is not a story or anything. It is actually divided in parts and each part focuses on one aspect or the other in a woman's life. Each chapter was short and there was a sorta moral at the end of it. This made it really easy to go through the chapters. They were precise and to the point.

Apurva Purohit has flawlessly intermingled her real life incidences in the book with her own perspective about things. It made for great humor. Even in today's time there are certain prejudices held against a woman who works while managing her family. A very positive and real approach is shown in Lady, You're Not a Man.

I completely agree with so many things in the book. Women are differentiated at a work place sometimes due to some reasons but there is discrimination against men as well. The best way for us to move forward in life is by accepting the faults that each gender has. Nobody is perfect. Working hard towards what you want to achieve is the only way to get ahead in life.

The book is not preaching anything. Simple facts are stated and you can't help but agree with them. This was not a typical romance read. It can be classified as women's fiction but that would not be right as well. Its a book for everybody. I really enjoyed Lady, You're Not a Man.

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

Author Interview- Kavita Kane (Karna's Wife: The Outcast's Queen)

Hello, guys! We are happy to have author Kavita Kane with us on the blog today. She has answered our questions in an interesting Author Interview. Before we get to that, let's take a look at Kavita's book, Karna's Wife: The Outcast's Queen. 

GOODREADS SUMMARY:

Karna's Wife: The Outcast's Queen tells the extraordinary story of Karna, the unsung hero of the Mahabharata, through the eyes of his wife Uruvi, bringing his story to the reader from a unique perspective. 

An accomplished Kshatriya princess who falls in love with and dares to choose the sutaputra over Arjun, Uruvi must come to terms with the social implications of her marriage and learn to use her love and intelligence to be accepted by Karna and his family. Though she becomes his mainstay, counselling and guiding him, his blind allegiance to Duryodhana is beyond her power to change. 

The story of Uruvi and Karna unfolds against the backdrop of the struggle between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. As events build up leading to the great war of the Mahabharata, Uruvi is a witness to the twists and turns of Karna's fate; and how it is inextricably linked to divine design. 

A splendid saga from the pages of the Mahabharata, Karna's Wife: The Outcast s Queen brings its characters alive in all their majesty.

BOOK LINKS: 

GOODREADS / FACEBOOK / AMAZON / FLIPKART / HOMESHOP18 / SNAPDEAL 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Am a senior journalist, currently the Features Editor at Pune Mirror. Before this was working with Magna magazines and DNA. 

Am a post-graduate of Eng Literature and Mass Communications and have done my schooling and college at Pune - St Helena's and Fergusson College respectively!

Am a mother of 2 teen aged daughters and my husband is a mariner and though my childhood was essentially in Patna, Delhi and towns of Bihar, have been in Pune for the past thirty years. 

CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR:  Facebook / Twitter / Email

AUTHOR INTERVIEW:

Hi Kavita, welcome to The Readdicts! It's great to have you here on our blog and we hope you have a nice time chatting with us. 

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. 

Kavita:  Am a senior journalist who knows nothing else but to write ...besides being a mother to two teen daughters, a rottweiler and a cat and wife to a mariner who's again currently at sea.

2) Tell us about your book, Karna's Wife.  

Kavita: To cut a long (epic!) story short, Karna's Wife is about the Mahabharata as seen through the eyes of the wife of Karna - who is one of the most intriguing characters in Indian mythology. No one knows much about him - he is mostly seen as Arjun's rival and Duryodhan's loyal ally.  In fact, I often got this response -' oh was Karna married??'  He seems to have this tag of the elusive bachelor! But, he was very much a 'happily' married man with eight sons....and to know more you will have to read the book...

3) Are you an avid reader? 

 Kavita: Yes thanks to be born into a family of manically voracious readers and being a student of English Literature.

4) What are some of your favourite books and who are some of your favourite authors?

Kavita: I don't subscribe the word 'favourite' to either books or authors - as that would be plain unfair to all what and whom I have read. Each book I have read has had  its own charm. As did the author.

5) Did you always want to be a writer? 

Kavita: Writer - definitely yes - as early as when I was in Class VII. I later took it up as a profession and now this book ..!

6) How did the idea to write Karna's Wife come up? Have you always been interested in the Mahabharata? 

Kavita:  Like, in most Indian homes, I was brought up on the various stories of both the epics. My father handed me C Rajgopalachari's Mahabharat and Ramayan when I was in Class VI and I was completely enchanted. The Amar Chitra Katha was my staple diet, a favourite vacation-read my cousins, my sisters and I used to devour and fight over many a times. 

The two characters whom I was quite besotted about were Bhishma and Karna - both were tragic - strong yet so vulnerable. And of course, so righteous. It was their moral dilemmas that I found so appealing and I used to often wonder with what moral grace Karna faced his wife after he returned home from the disgraceful 'vastraharan' incident in which he played a dubious role. How did his wife react to his moral downfall? I checked up and couldn't get any satisfying answers and decided I could well develop this into an entire story. And that was how the book was born...

7) What do you like to do when you are not writing? 

Kavita: Watch films! After books, it's cinema and the theatre which I cannot resist.

8) I assume you like mythology. What are your most favourite Indian mythological reads? 

Kavita: I am completely fascinated by mythology - be it Indian or Greek - and read it more as a subject than a casual read. It was as a student of English literature that I got first introduced to Greek mythology - invariably, there used to be these literary references to them and I used to end checking up a heap of reference books! That's how I got hooked.  I especially love reading essays by scholars. I don't perceive them as some specific genre in writing but more as an interesting matter to read. 

9) What advice would you give to young aspiring Indian writers? 

Kavita: Besides the language, what is important is  how you tell your story . An author has to be a master story teller.

10) If a Bollywood movie were to be made on Karna's Wife, which actor would you like to see play the role of Karna?

Kavita: Probably Hrithik? He has that golden luminosity associated with Karna.

Thank you so much for spending time with us today, Kavita. We wish you all the very best for everything ahead. 

And thank you readers, for stopping by, and happy reading! 

Review- English Bites! by Manish Gupta

Goodreads Summary:

English Bites! My Fullproof English Learning Formula is the story of a man who goes from being tongue-tied in school to becoming a smooth talking banker. Through a series of hilarious personal adventures and misadventures, Manish Gupta provides easy solutions to problems faced by language learners. So, whether you're a vernacular speaker, a GRE/ GMAT/CAT/XAT aspirant or just a language nut, English Bites! will expand your vocabulary and improve your verbal ability. It may even help you love the English language a little more! 

• Add over 1000 new words to your vocabulary and figure out easy and effective ways to expand your word bank.
• Combine etymology, mnemonics, jokes and anecdotes to better your understanding of the English language.
• Differentiate between similar sounding words and learn to use them right.
• Improve your general knowledge with trivia that spans brand names, automobiles, fine dining, love, money, banks, science and B-school jargon.

REVIEW:

*NOTE: We (The Readdicts) received a copy of English Bites! from author Manish Gupta in exchange for an honest review. We thank Manish for the book! 

It's safe for me to say that author Manish Gupta's book, English Bites! came to me at the right time. My French Masters studies have me thinking and talking more in French than English or even my mother tongue for that matter. 
My professor had once said that we pursue our higher studies in French under the impression that we have a great comprehension of the English language, which clearly isn't the case. The ever evolving, vast and widespread English language has more to it than we think and English Bites! made me realise that. 
At first glance, English Bites! may seem like a reference type text for competitive exams. Well, I personally haven't referred to any such books but if this is how they actually are, then I don't mind reading them at all because this book was not only packed with interesting facts and lots of intelligence, but it's also an enjoyable and fun read. 
The author speaks a lot about his own, sometimes silly and sometimes sweet, experiences while learning English and it was awesome to accompany him on his journey where we learn heaps of words and some really cool vocabulary relating to topics ranging from economics, coffee, sandwiches, doctoral terminology, educational degrees, marriage, the delivery of babies and lots more. 
Some facts were so interesting that I shared them with my family to enlighten them and also to show them that I know something they don't. For example, did you know that the QANTAS in Qantas Airlines stands for Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Services Ltd. and French Fries are called French Fries because the act of cutting the potatoes into finger like shapes is called frenching? This and loads more makes English Bites! a book that's  packed with knowledge that's worth knowing and sharing. 
If you love to know the story and facts behind anything but if you, like me, are too lazy to do research on your own, then English Bites! is the perfect book to begin with. I did feel that at certain times, especially when talking about a certain encounter or retelling a certain incident, the author abruptly stopped and moved elsewhere. But what was impressive was that the vocabulary was true to the context. 
I would say that Manish Gupta's book is a great and knowledgeable contribution to the literary world.  

RATING:

Review- The Paperback Badshah by Abhay Nagarajan

Summary-

‘In life…you can choose to become a specialist or a generalist. But in love, please don’t become a reluctant fundamentalist. Instead become a love scientist.’
-Raghu Balakrishnan

Raghu Balakrishnan is a laidback 25 year old, who quits his regular job as a financial advisor to focus single-mindedly on his dream of becoming a published author in India. He stays with his parents. They reluctantly tolerate his new found creative ‘nonsense’ as he works on his book, a love story, which he titles The Paperback Badshah. 
As time passes by, he realizes that writing the book is just one part of the dream.
How did one go about getting it published? 
What about the marketing and promotion?
What about reactions from the readers?
Would it open up the faucets of love in their hearts or would it irritate them, given the sheer absurdity of the plot?
Along the way, will Raghu also get lucky in matters of the heart?
Find out by joining him in his entertaining journey, as he chases his writing dream to eventually become a published ‘100 Rupee’ paperback author.

Review-

The Paperback Badshah is the journey of Raghu Balakrishnan who leaves his job as a financial advisor to pursue his dream of becoming a writer. The book starts off with Raghu at his work place being sick and tired of his job in which he has no interest. Raghu comes from a slightly upper middle class family and can afford taking a break to complete his manuscript.

He starts to work on his book, The Paperback Badshah which is supposed to be a love story. All his friends make fum of him, that he is writing a love story when he himself has never been in love. I thought Raghu was a sweet guy. He really had no evil intent in mind and his thought processes were unique. 

He could relate one random thing to another at the spur of the moment and make it into a ridiculous rhyme. It was actually quite amusing. The Paperback Badshah is supposed to be a comedy and there were some moments where I genuinely laughed out loud. The jokes were sometimes a bit crude but over all it was a book filled with silly jokes.

Those who enjoy reading books where you don't really have to use your brain but just enjoy the book and its sense of humor in the moment can pick up The Paperback Badshah. It is not meant to be a life changing read. I can appreciate such books from time to time without over thinking it. But there is a ton of Hindi mixed in the book so I would only recommend it to those who get it.

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

Review- Left From Dhakeshwari by Kunal Sen

Goodreads Summary:

'Left from Dhakeshwari' is a collection of nine interconnected stories dealing with lust and loneliness, death and obsession, memories and madness.

In the first story, 'We Were Writers', we meet a Bengali film actress, who after her brother’s suicide, returns to her small hometown and reflects upon the life she left behind; in ‘Bomb Church’, Aniruddha tries to piece together his mother’s identity after her mysterious departure; the only clues available in the existential whodunit being: a soap-box, a brown shoe and the statements of five witnesses; while the heartrending 'Salt Lake' recounts an unusual affair between a disfigured girl and a mime-artist with scars of his own. 

The other characters in this collection include a runaway teenage-girl, an agoraphobic writer, a masochistic cosmetic surgeon, a ghostess, identical twins and a manic-depressive housewife. And they are all in search, of a time and place they can call their own. That is perhaps why the title itself, denotes both a time and a place: a point of departure and the forbearer of journeys. 

In his first solo book, Kunal Sen infuses his women with souls of poetesses and a seductive melancholy and arms his men with child-like, romantic sadism. 'Left from Dhakeshwari' is written in a style that straddles between the tragic-dramatic and mildly surrealistic, but remains in the end a book about some remarkably original people and their depths and failings.

REVIEW:

I had no idea about a book called Left From Dhakeshwari by Kunal Sen until we became part of the Left From Dhakeshwari Read-along along with a few other Indian bloggers.  

I do enjoy short stories once in a while, but they leave me feeling empty and wanting for more. I think that the trick with these types of stories is that if you do them well, they make for really good reads.

Left From Dhakeshwari has a total of nine stories which are all inter connected. A people map or tree at the beginning of the book shows us the relation between all of the characters from these nine stories.

While I really liked some stories, there were some that went over my head and were beyond my comprehension. I did not understand their significance at all and I didn't even want to try. But the ones that I did like were really good and some even had me thinking deeply about them. 

Although it was difficult to get some points the author tried to put forth, he does an excellent job at capturing certain emotions and sentiments.

Author Kunal Sen's writing is different, in a good way. It has got a nice flow and literary touch to it. I loved how, in an already short story, he made further numerical divisions. I go by numbers of chapters, of pages, etc. when reading and so I really liked how the author managed to make a short story seem like a small novel.

Overall, Left From Dhakeshwari didn't exactly live up to the 4 and 5 star reviews I'd seen for it on Goodreads, but it was a dazed, decent and different read.

RATING:

Review- Here Sat a Key Maker by Makarand Lohire

Summary-

Can a poor boy dream of a life with his love? Does the lure of money drive one to betray ones own? Here Sat a Key Maker... is the story of Javed, Shashank, Preity, their simple lives complicated by poverty, love and ambition. Set in the backdrop of sprawling metropolis of Mumbai, will fate be kind enough to fulfill their wishes?

Review-

Here Sat a Key Maker by Makarand Lohire seemed like an interesting read. It is the story of a boy who is poor and how he loses his principles, thinking that if he gains money he can gain the love of his life. It is shown how simple actions by someone can turn into something very complicated in this world where everyone just looks out for himself.

Javed is the poor boy. He is a key maker who works to make his ends meet. Every day he watches a beautiful girl pass by who is the highlight in his dull life. Soon, Javed gets tangled up with a group of boys who are not hesitant to use unfair means to gain what they want. I liked Javed and found him to be a sincere guy. The circumstances in which he got involved were justified.

Shashank is the son of a rich doctor who's story goes parallel with Javed's. Their lives are connected in a way in which they don't know. Shashank is pining after Preity who is his batch mate. I liked Shashank but I hated Preity. She was a typical annoying girl who liked to string guys along. Sadly, Shashank was too blinded by his love to see that first but he came to his senses by the end of it.

Here Sat a Key Maker is set in Mumbai and I really enjoyed reading all the facets of the city which were shown. People from all walks of society reside here and you never know how one may be connected to another. The only thing I found a bit unreal was that the relation which we find between Javed and Shashank. It was not quite believable.

All in all Here Sat a Key Maker was an okay and entertaining read with twists and turns which I so did not see coming. Its a comparatively short read. Fans of Indian fiction can spend a few hours reading this.

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