The Friendless God by S. Anuradha

The author was recommended by R.N. Bhaskar, a reputed journalist I met at Bhopal in February 2023. 

R.N. Bhaskar is known for having published a biography of Gautam Adani. 

It is interesting to note that the book mentions the 'First Edition' was published in 2017, just in case anybody deludes themselves to believe it comes at a time just when Ayodhya Ram Mandir is being talked about with the clock ticking for the time of its inaugural on the 22nd January 2024. 

The author identifies herself as a Historian and Financial Journalist, which rather disappointed me, after reading the book. As I found meagre research work or grounded facts. 

The title of the book, the Friendless God, creates a tremor but when your eyes read the sub title, that's where it all begins - the journey to explore what the book has to say. 

Staunch denial of the author, in their attempt to appear realistic, that anti- asceticism - made the story very hard to understand, one wondered what was going on, who or what was the writer talking about and the narration is very vague. Conclusively, in fact, the staunch denial has brought out, that which the writer is seemingly wanting to bury, ever more brightly. 

The characters - Raman, Vaidehi and Kodanda are very shallow. There is a lot of potential in each one of them, that has not been dug into and for a writer who claims is a historian and a financial journalist, in the back cover of the book - I'd only say it reflects poorly on the author. 

The plot is like a tidal wave, not moving forward and only repeats itself over and over again, except at one place where Kodanda runs away. So, without there being proper writing techniques applied, it becomes very dull and predictive. However, the bright side of this is, that even if a reader leaves the book for 10-15 days, when they open the book they find it easy to pick up from where they left. 

I'd like to put a personal thought provoking note to the author here - 

If the West are known for the Practicality and Money, The East have been known for the Ethics and Value. Interestingly, a Doctor will validate it, by saying the left brain is logical whilst the right brain is mystical. Just as the left is depicted as masculine (The Sun), right as feminine (the Moon). Both play a part in maintaining a balance, the world cannot exist without the other. 

-----

The book doesn't need to and may not change what it wants to convey at all, let me make this clear. The writer needs to either overcome their blocks or hire a good editor or a ghostwriter. They need to pump in more concrete reasoning behind the scenes. After all its an historian writing the book, not a baby neglecting forced feeding. Just That much work, will give a cutting-edge touch to the book. 

Until such time, I wouldn't recommend this book. 

So, lets say ... even if the author accidentally ended up reaching the book to the descendants of Lord Ram himself, then the author will not realize it. Such tragedies may also happen with the author. 

New York Wakes To Culture by Karina Pandya

 If you seek to pick up a light read just before you're about to board the plane to New York then this'll make a good title to be added to your hand baggage. Fortunately, I was recently allowed 9kgs of excess baggage that comprised of 'just books' . 

But, ... that's beside the point - this book is a very engaging read right from the word 'Go'. 

Even as a travelogue, it serves as a good reference book to make you get the feel of what the city is like. 

I've known the writer for plenty -many years, to safely say she's evolved and her writing speaks for itself. 

If you are unsure whether the writer is worth your time, then take a leap of faith - the book only demands 

- 30 minutes out a speed reader 

-  two dedicated hours of a long distance traveler 

- and gifts two nights full of sleep (out of a slow reader), where you visit NYC in your dream - since its the second last thing you'd do before sleeping - the last thing probably being switching the lights out ... 

To cut the long story short - GO, GET THE BOOK, TODAY!!! 

Bombay Hangovers By Rochelle Potkar

 

After a yearlong search, I finally found a collectible that I'd like to showcase in my blog. 

I bought a signed copy from the author, in an event, where I reached just on time to learn that the book was the first attempt at short stories, by the writer. The buzz in and around the author sold more and more copies. 

I don't remember the last time in 5 years when I'd gotten myself groomed in a parlor and paid attention to myself, only to attend a book reading event - but when I reached there - the feeling was earthy. 

The cover design of the book most certainly captures the heart of the city. It visually exposes the look and feel of the city to the world out there. It is brilliant and should probably be chosen as a nomination for such a great cover design. The orange color is wow. 

Stories in the book are written, keeping the belief systems of the writer, intact. The author carries with herself a responsibility and she fulfills her duty through this book. If you're amongst those who carries a nametag of being a staunch anti-feminist or perhaps a realist or maybe a modernist, then I'd say to you - that this book is for those who can dowse their beliefs they hold dear with conviction and proof - through stories written therein. 

If you're looking for fluency or something that would take you by surprise, then this ain't the best read for you. This book will drill your innocence which seeks protection and isn't exposed as much as this book is. 

My verdict is that the book is an excellent go by the author. I'd recommend you listen to her videos first or read her interviews before you choose to read her book. 

The City Of Good Death by Priyanka Champaneri

 

Someone recommended this book to me. 

In the first place, I find it difficult to decide which book to read and then, whether I must read it once I make that decision zeroing in on the title. The hesitation in my thoughts were there before I started reading the book. There was little insight exposed about the plot except that its based in the holy city of Banaras. 

This is the authors' debut added to my reluctance. However, the language was simple. The word scape was ethnically molded. The story ran slow. Despite having finished more than half the book, I was yet to establish answers to the most basic questions about the plot. It was then, I started to believe - perhaps this book is the prequel to the main plot which may open up in the next book. Even when I finished reading the book, I wondered whether the entire story was all about what I call 'an emotional hairpin'. An attachment to a emotional moment in one's life or to people. 

The cover design is beautiful. The parrots and the visual diffuses a yogic feel. Yellow color though is the color of Haldi, which was quite contradictory to what the story was about. 

One thing I absolutely despised was the attempt to debunk Indian customs, beliefs and practices as "Superstition". I always prophet it is the ignorance of people who devalue Indian practices. Those people have not bothered to have studied Indian scriptures, to know the reason behind every belief, custom and practices which exist. The science behind which supersedes everything they may have ever learned. 

'The pots.. ' was really not funny. There is much anger there. The spirits in Banaras are real. As real as the existence of our ancestors who are worshipped in our puja. The Garuda Puran sheds more knowledge into it, when it is organized right after someone passes away. They should not be mocked or misused for the benefit of a plot. The author was not able to deal with it well, she brought it out but couldn't resolve it due to her half knowledge. 

The good thing about the book is, the writer is able to keep the reader going. A person reads on, irrespective. 

The characterization is on the surface. The transformations in characters, which makes the reader see the different colors of a character over time has lot of scope. 

With this I end my review and wish the author best of luck!! 

Journey From Guwahati to Macchiwara

 So, its been a while I wrote a blog post, never mind but this book deserves a word. I admire persistence and determination in a person above all. When I read the name of the book, I had a curiosity within me, whats a life of a banker like? As I drove through the book I found bites from the lives of many people, I had to make many assumptions in order to understand the whole idea about why that story was there in the book. My expectation was to get a sneak peak into the life of a banker, all the stories in the book had everything but that. Most importantly, the title of the book misled me. 

However, the good part about the book is that the language is very simple. A person who spent their life in service will relate with the feelings of the author. The take away are memories, which probably a person not belonging to the service class community will never have an opportunity to collect. 

Most importantly, its the first book of the author, and an amateur writers first book I know is never his/her best work, its the second book which kicks off. I suggest the writer looks up characterization to refine his work. 

The cover design of the book is interesting and intriguing. The designer whoever that is, needs to be given the credit in the book, he'll get lots of work. He/she has done a great job. I'm familiar with the publishing house, Notion Press publishes good work - and this one is no exception. 

Fifty Shades of Grey -The Trilogy by E L James

This one I'm writing is more like telling my blog, Yes darling am very much here.I haven't forgotten you, forsaken you or lost you - YET.

Ironically, the book seems to be alluring the same vibes! I just finished reading the third book and the first thought after I put the book down was - its time I revisited my blog.

OKAY! So firstly my journey with the series has been - first watching the movies one after the other and THEN reading the books. My review about the movies was that its "decent" - hell, ya. Now I leave it for you to decide whether that is a compliment or an insult. It is a very good representation of the book but it does leave a lot of sub plots they reveal unanswered and the viewer is left with a bundle of questions in their head - which are actually easily answered by logic - if they have any.

The books on the other hand is written well. The writer had to go ' beyond reason' in a lot of places for her to synchronize the stories as told by Ana = as told by Christian.

She has tried to come close to creating a parallel to Kama Sutra book of love. To those of you who have not read that book, Kama Sutra is much more than just a reference text for educational purposes - it has a story which compliments well with the variety of acts. Seems like EL James studied that book to showcase what runs the story that compliments the sexual acts the duo get into.

Ana's spontaneous acts contradicts Christian's planned controlled acts. Ana's need to fly(figure of speech) against Christian's need to keep firmly grounded in all his actions.... Ana's absolute disinterest in Money against Christian's absolute Monetary power. 

She has not been very creative with the antagonist part. In fact, they hardly have much role to play. Its interesting to see an author bring out the protagonists so strongly without having antagonists. That is a rare feat.

The detail to every second that she has managed to display is applaudable. The lust displayed in the book is definitely noticeable whereby it seems as if the author is more like penning down her desires and dreams even if it is at the cost of sacrificing the rhythmic flow of the story. There are So many places where putting in sex - just does not make any sense whatsoever.

One may be fooled to believe the book is Ana's story but the truth is its Christian's story all along not only in the basic trilogy but also the parallel one she is writing of the story being retold from Christian's perspective. Its all about -

- Finding your identity.
and 
- Self Esteem.

Ana is just a fabricated by product to make the story happen.


On that thought - I think - I will end this review!! 

Musical Marvels of Self By Dr. Ujjwala Kakaria and Rumpa Ray Ghosh

The book was gifted to me by the author in one of my Poets Choice Poetry Book Club meetings, held at Poetry Love and Cheesecake Cafe, Juhu in Mumbai. The journey from the moment the book came to me and the moment I opened its first page was long - as we both, myself and the book, prepared ourselves to engage into sharing each others thoughts and emotions. 

The book, being a medium of the voices of two separate individuals. Me, the reader, being at the receiving end of it and yet mutely, without using words, conversing with the book about my experiences as I voyaged onwards into the pages till the very end,.... was exciting. 

Dr. Ujjwala Kakarla's poems gave me a whiff of the winds of Hyderabad. The pages I found most interesting were Pg number 10, 12 and 15. 

Rumpa Ghosh's pen spoke of a child learning to hold the pen and fascinated by its nib and structure and color and the way she held the pen, exploring every nook and corner of the art of writing. What I liked about her work was the Tanka section and to be more specific - Trust , the poem on page 98. 

The cover page of the book is intriguing. It is an ignition to invite the readers curious mind as to what 'marvels' exist in the book which I am unaware about? The color scheme is un-earthy and contradicting life. The feel of it being a dry desert gives quite a feeler about solitude in the essence from which the poems might be coming. After all it is related to the 'SELF' .

In a nutshell, the poems are not born in this book via experimentation. They are drilled in the psychology of the authors via life's experiences. With respect and gratitude to them for sharing it with me - 

I crave leave from this review and bring it to an end.