Duplicity by Fin C. Gray | Book Review

Summary:

England, 2003. Tom McIntyre is a worried man. Debts are piling up, his career is in free-fall, and his family life is under strain. Only his wife, Alison, remains unswerving in her support of him. Close to rock bottom, Tom clinches the deal of a lifetime and then tragedy strikes, putting everything Tom values at risk.

In the aftermath, a toxic mix of grief, substance abuse and blame leads to different paths for the family. Duplicity is a story of lost innocence, radicalisation, and family bonds. Can grief, love and hate be reconciled? And can Tom repair his fractured family?

That Thing About You by Abhaidev | Book Review

What if co-incidences in our lives are nothing but a result of a dice thrown by some higher being?
What if, to the heavens, our lives are nothing but rows of dominos ready to be put into action?
What if we all are mere pieces of pawns carefully played upon by a cosmic chessmaster?

'That Thing About You' is an uncommon story of a common man rejected in love.

This is a story of a man walking on the path of self-discovery.

Subodh, a regular IT employee, is perceived as an immature man by everyone, but he isn't bothered until his love interest rejects him citing the same.

Although dejected and crestfallen, he soon befriends an unusual, mysterious woman who knows everything about him and seems to have all the answers.

Soon, his life goes through a lot of unexpected turns—from doubting his sanity and visiting a psychologist to a failed arranged marriage attempt made by his parents.

Everything in his life seems to be in fast-forward mode. One thing that does not change, however, is this unusual “friend” of his who refuses to reveal her identity and chooses to appear at her whim.

Who is this mysterious woman? Why is she prying into his life? Where will this strange friendship lead him? Is some impending danger awaiting Subodh or is it something else altogether?

Unorthodox Words by Jaquia Abreu | Book Review

Summary:

Poetry is just an artistic release to provide healing. This book does just that. There is a way out of depression, a way out of the dark pits of life, there is a way to stop having suicidal thoughts, there is a way. Open this book and see for yourself. Healing is available for all. Enjoy the colorful photography of nature on each page paired with each poem. This is a reminder of how beautiful this world really is. Sometimes we need that daily reminder in the dark moments.

Irrationally Passionate by Jason Kothari | Book Review

Summary:

While a college student at Wharton, Jason Kothari scraped together money from family and friends to save his childhood favourite comic book company, Valiant Entertainment, from bankruptcy and bring it back to life. A few years later, he transformed Valiant into the third-largest superhero entertainment company in the world after Marvel and DC Comics and sold it for $100 million. Jason then became a professional turnaround leader and went on to transform distressed Indian Internet icons Housing.com, FreeCharge and Snapdeal, helping save billions of dollars in value, and advise giants like technology investor Softbank and real estate developer Emaar, who have invested billions of dollars in India. Irrationally Passionate reveals the inside story of how a rebel, train-wreck kid transformed himself into a successful young entrepreneur and business leader who became one of the top ten paid executives in India while only in his 30s. From getting his first job as an assistant to Jackie Chan in Hong Kong, to learning strategy from champion Muay Thai fighters in Thailand, to tackling huge personal setbacks, to becoming a CEO in 60 seconds, among many other stories - Jason's inspiring journey across countries, industries and companies has something for everyone, right from students to entrepreneurs to corporate CEOs to even parents of students and entrepreneurs. Irrationally Passionate is a highly personal, authentic, open and complete account of a young entrepreneur's life. Brimming with practical advice and philosophical insights, it will force readers to reflect on how they perceive life, work, family and spirituality by giving them a fresh perspective.

Love Unexpected by Ritu Kakar | Book Review

Summary:

Kaira is an independent girl, chasing her ambitions. Aveer is a strong-minded and successful entrepreneur, seeking expansion. When they get together to give wings to her venture, there are fireworks and a strange Chemistry between them. But there is something else walking along – kaira’s past. With drew’s presence looming large like the devil, kaira does not know how to accept her emotions for aveer. Her loved ones protect her from all harm fiercely, but will they succeed this time too? Amidst confusion of a promising future and the demons of the past, in trying to find faith and burying betrayal, and in the battle between kaira’s heart and her fears will love unexpected lead the way to happiness?

Mayane by Nikhil Kapoor | Book Review

Summary:

Why everything, every relationship, every feeling comes to a standstill with a question mark on its existence. Why we have to prove ourselves, our feelings ou relationship every time. Why? Why do we need reasons for everything?

Yours Legally by Sonia Sahijwani | Book Review

Summary:

"A young girl Sia has recently finished her graduation in Law against her parent’s wishes. With absolutely no family background in the legal profession, she sets out to explore the various opportunities this not so common but upcoming field of law brings her way."

Footprints by Nisha Tandon | Book Review

Summary:

"Footprints" is a collection of my personal thoughts narrated in a poetic style. It may strike a chord and resonate with your life. You will find my poetry descriptive with vivid imagery and a flavoured undertone of subtle story telling.

Footprints as they say are impressions one creates through their walk of life. They may erase with time but leave behind precious memories. In the pages of “Footprints” I have attempted to present and preserve some of my most cherished memories. These are pure emotions straight from my heart to yours!

My Ramyeon Girl by Nethra A | Book Review

Summary:

One afternoon, Lee Jung-Su, a star at the peak of his career meets Meena at a ramyeon shop, and thenceforth things take a turn. He gradually grows to like her, but encounters racism first-hand as he falls for the Indian girl.

Celebrities don't have it easy, especially not in South Korea. His fresh approach towards acting and the consequences of his relationship with Meena changes his perspectives of black and white, of good and bad, of reality and fantasy.

Author:

Nethra A

Publisher:

Fablery

Release date:

April 15th, 2020

No. of Pages:

Kindle Edition, 97 Pages

The story revolves around a South Korean actor who falls in love with an indian girl. The précis gives you an idea about a love story which desires you to read the book. The title is catchy and will arouse the curiosity of the readers about the story. The narration style of the author is simple and language is easy to read. You can picture every moment of this love story.

The book flowed quite well and I finished it quickly. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who's in korean drama & k-pop culture.

Karmic City: The City of Lord Shiva by Hema Myer Sood | Book Review

Summary:

He meditated for some time, seeking higher guidance. He declared, “Aditi, I am acknowledging your power and appreciating your magnificence. You are a soul of light, inherently divine, capable of merging with the Higher Self.” Aditi swallowed the lump that came to her throat as tears pricked the corner of her eyes. Her hair stood on end and her breathing momentarily stilled and she wondered whether she had heard him correctly. He smilingly explained, “The first word is acknowledgment. Aditi, you have to admit to yourself that you are worthy and you have the power. The second word is appreciation and you have to like that about yourself. Most people feel shy when praised; they hide it or pretend that it doesn’t exist. “The third word is magnificence because every soul of light is magnificent in his or her way. Power is simply acknowledging that you are worth it and you are an illuminated being of light. Lack of confidence is an imbalance of power. So, a true leader is all-powerful but does not intimidate or exercise control over others. He wields command for the benefit of all, seeing the whole picture and the individual. His perception is not at the expense of the individual. However, he sees the individual and the collective together, never ignoring the cry of one in the crowd.” “Since the higher energies of 2014 entered Planet Earth there have been huge dimensional shifts. There have been subtle changes in the inter-galactic vibrations that positively influence Planet Earth. The first indication is the unusual climatic changes in different parts of the world.” He said, “Aditi, most of the mountainous regions on earth have been activated in 2014. They are now emitting a new musical high-level frequency.” , “These frequencies are beyond the hearing ability of the human ear. I have earlier spoken to you about our spiritual organs; the spiritual ears can assist us. A new musical grid has been created around the earth.

Author:

Hema Myer Sood

Publisher:

Invincible Publishers

Release date:

1 January, 2018

No. of Pages:

Paperback, 277 Pages

This is the last book of trilogy Karmic City: The City of Lord Shiva. The book is divided into two chapters. The author has explained different levels of consciousness just like in the other books. The pace of the book is good. Not too fast and not too slow. Since I am familiar with the author having read previous two books in the series she has written, I knew this book would not disappoint. She has done a great job explaining each and every concepts in a very simple manner.

The writing style in this book is simply exceptional. I read a few pages chapters the first night I opened it and it was really challenging to put down. The next day I picked it up and felt compelled to finish the whole book in one sitting, as I was so drawn into it. The writer did an awesome job with character development which can kill the book or make the book. And the ability to tie in everything just makes it more intriguing. This is a book for anyone that wants to embark on a special journey as well as reading for gaining more knowledge about it. The book is listed as the 3rd in a series, but it works fine as a stand-alone novel too 

Karmic City: The City of Lord Vishnu by Hema Myer Sood | Book Review

Summary:

He explained, “Arjuna’s egoistic evaluation of himself as the greatest warrior was being put to test by this fratricidal war. To keep his honour and prestige intact, he was anxious to attain a victorious outcome. When he saw the vast Kaurava army, Arjuna feared defeat since their army was considerably smaller. He mistakenly assessed the fratricidal war wherein he desired a personal victory to establish his supremacy in that era as the greatest archer. He perceived himself: a single ego, fighting with other individual egos. He forgot the all-important dictum that it was one army fighting another one, wherein the cause was a glorious one since Lord Krishna sought to redress the skewed balance between Dharma and Adharma.” “In this war, neither was personal egos being assessed nor were personal issues to be sorted out. Everyone had to temporarily lose his or her egoistic individuality and merge to form one army. There are many different facets of Arjuna’s despondency. Lord Krishna silently heard every logical and convincing argument put forward by Arjuna. Arjuna was confused by Lord Krishna’s unflinching silence. The mental crisis that besieged the powerful personality of Arjuna completely transformed him. He portrayed a bewildered and confused personality, overcome with grief at the thought of committing the felonious sin of killing his clan. He loses his basic self-confidence as his traumatized nerves denounce the occurrence of a fratricidal war. His neurotic mental condition portrays a restless mind which involuntarily seeks the human frailty of escapism.” “Diverse complicated situations that life offers to us, continually is subtly comparable to a conflict on the battlefield. When you delve deeply into the subtle nuances of Lord Krishna’s philosophy, you may find yourself caught in a moral battle between Dharma and Adharma, which often strain familial relations. We have to accept every external crisis as an occasion to enhance our inner life.

Author:

Hema Myer Sood

Publisher:

Invincible Publishers

Release date:

1 January, 2018

No. of Pages:

Paperback, 344 Pages

This is the second book in the series and I love how the story picks up from the first book but it's also a stand alone, if someone missed reading the first book. This book goes into depth on topics like human aura, karmic balance and many more. This is quite a unique story, part instructional non-fiction, built around the fictional account.The language of the book is simple and the author has done a great work.

The narrative is very interesting which does not let you keep the book down until you complete it. The way author has been able to integrate the characters in the series is applaudable. The reader learns them along with the characters, and that is what I think makes this book totally unique. It is interesting and keeps your attention, and is also so worthwhile as it challenges and encourages you wherever you are in life. I highly recommend it!

Karmic City: The City of Lord Brahma by Hema Myer Sood | Book Review

Summary:

The name ‘Karmic City’ is used in the same sense that Walt Whitman calls himself a “Kosmos”. In fact each of us has three Cities within us – that of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. This book uses the genre of fiction to acquaint us with the gist of ancient Indian wisdom. The reader is taken step by step in easy stages so that as the story unfolds, answers come forth to the most profound questions about life, death and re-birth.

A group of people with marked human foibles and assorted emotional baggage meet and thereafter agree to meet frequently on finding that they have something to gain by it. They are at different levels of consciousness, but one of them is a highly evolved seeker of the spiritual life. He is referred to simply as the “Soul”. All the others have names emphasizing their individuality. Only the “Soul” has so gained in spirituality that he has realized that he is one with the rest of creation. He is clairvoyant and the others accept him as a sort of guru. Yet he is also a seeker and proclaims that he is not a guru. The first and subsequent meetings with him alter the lives of all the other characters.

This book has the potential to shape the lives of the readers into better human beings and be unruffled by the travails of life. It happens in easy stages and one can start at a convenient level, suitable to one’s own ability to understand. It is reminiscent of “The Pilgrim’s Progress” and is bound to be just as useful in today’s age as that great work was for a long time.

Author:

Hema Myer Sood

Publisher:

Invincible Publishers

Release date:

1 January, 2018

No. of Pages:

Paperback, 222 Pages

In the first book of trilogy Karmic City, The City of Lord Brahma is a potrayal of physical body, astral body, astral world, death and re birth. There are five main characters in the book Soul, Aditi, Virat, Vaidehi and Karthik. The cover of the book is very attractive and the title is also apt. The language and pace are very understandable, simple and easy to follow. I loved the poetry of the words and the way the scenes were painted in front of me as if I was right there.

At times I could not put it down and was reading it until the early hours in the morning despite being tired. I just wanted to continue reading it and find out what happened next. The author must have done extensive research to write this book and the same reflects in the book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Accessible and easy to read, it deals with some of our deepest questions. There are no answers here, but you may just find the beginnings of a trail that, if followed.

Beyond Brand: Master Your Power, Joy, and Media To Live Your Legacy by Joy Donnell | Book Review

Summary:

You're human. You deserve to be more than a brand. For those seeking something different, Beyond Brand expands the ideas of your power, inner joy and media outreach to build legacy - a cultural legacy you can live in real-time as well as leave behind. Through stories, self examination, best practices and strategy, Donnell breaks down how to keep what you create aligned with who you are becoming.Humans are creators, change agents, disruptors, and innovators. We're the forces that shift behaviors, environments, and norms. To confine our gifts to finite public images is a disservice to human advancement, a constriction of personal growth, and a small, limiting lifestyle. We can look beyond brand and live our legacy.

Undercover: Operation Julie - The Inside Story by Stephen Bentley | Book Review

Summary:

In a Liverpool night club, the Canadian mobster said, "Are you guys cops?"

Steve Jackson heard him. His blood ran cold.

Jackson wasn't his real name. He was an undercover cop.

Ever wondered about the life of an undercover cop?

What it takes to infiltrate a worldwide drugs gang?

What it feels like to live a double life? – To ‘live a lie.’

Read this gripping true story of Britain's biggest drug bust.

In March 1978, at the culmination of Operation Julie, fifteen defendants, including doctors, research chemists, a writer, and "professional" drug dealers were sentenced to a combined total of one hundred and twenty four years imprisonment.

Operation Julie is still today the point of reference for all British undercover operations and training. In 2011, the BBC claimed this massive and unique police operation was the start of the war on drugs.

The author, Stephen Bentley, was one of four undercover detectives engaged on Operation Julie, one of the world's largest drug busts. Together with his undercover partner, he infiltrated the gang producing around 90 percent of the world's LSD and uncovered a plot to import huge quantities of Bolivian cocaine into the UK.

Author:

Stephen Bentley

Publisher:

Hendry Publishing

Release date:

July 16th, 2017

No. of Pages:

Paperback, 298 Pages

This book is well written and based on a true story. It takes you into the life of a Undercover Police Officer. This book grabs your attention right from the beginning. The story is brilliantly told by the author, Stephen Bentley. The way it was written made the reader feel as much a part of the story as the under cover cop.

I was very anxious to read this book. It was very fast paced and easy to get through. I picked it up on a lazy Sunday afternoon and couldn't put it down until I finished it. It just held my interest from page one. It was very high action because everytime you would flip a page it turned into another unbelievable scene. It's an amazing book, it makes such good sense. I don't think a review is enough to describe how much this book affected me, it would take pages. It's very informative, easy to read, and structured well. A thoughtful and well written work that takes you on a journey. This is a rollercoaster ride well taken! Looking forward to the movie!

My Crownless Queen by Sindhura Kotaru | Book Review

Summary:

"Love has second chance, but it's upto us to take it." Life has been usual for Peter all along... His career soaring, his dreams fulfilled, newer colleagues, reputation among people he knew and his friends closer to him than ever before. But a trip back home changes everything, taking his life on a whirl and dropping him in the exact same place, he left years ago, only to relive his agony, leaving him two choices... Accept his past and move on or fight for what he believes in without any guarantee for happiness. Will he make peace with his past, or keep dwelling on it?

The Grandmaster & Other Short Stories by Chinmaya Desai | Book Review

Summary:

Never judge a book by its cover...you will be surprised by what lies within!

A Chess Grandmaster is accused of losing a World Championship game intentionally... A middle-class sexagenarian from Nagpur receives a surprise visit from an old friend... A lady will go to any extent to get an ingredient for her recipe... A Mayan explorer in 498 AD encounters a storm and drifts to ancient India... A Brigadier plans to surprise a civilian with a war memento... A politician wants to save the beautiful Seria Valley from an unscrupulous builder... A jet-setting banker gets into a verbal duel with a woman during a plane journey...

Friends by Shivani Anil Kukreja | Book Review

Summary:

A story that says it all, no distance, no person can destroy it until you stop putting efforts on it. But here to of them met and then again get departed, one forgets and the other remembers everything. He comes back in life and tries to make the other one realize his importance and his existence.

Usually we say a guy forgets the past too soon but here he remembers everything and comes back and she doesn’t agree to know him.

Seasons of Life by Khemlata Negi | Book Review

Summary:

This book contains the diverse collection of poems that could easily connect the reader with emotions experienced in the various phases of life. This poetry collection will lead you to the introspection. Poems that would offer you an insight to the various colours of life, challenges, outcomes of our actions, the love for our grandparents, the state of women in society, the pain of separation from the loved ones, the bliss of solitude, the tale and misery of never ending wishes and curiosity of human mind, the various shades of love, the ability to transform one’s life into a masterpiece. Poems that would revive some faded moments of your life and could possibly touch your heart.

Crossing the Finish Line by Sanjai Banerji | Book Review

Summary:

Crossing the Finish Line', is a book on a six-months' running program to get you to the finish line of a half marathon. It is refreshingly different from other books on running due to the amicable narrative style evolving in an easy and smooth manner throughout the book.

Interview: Arun Batish, Author of 'EKA'

How did you begin writing? Did you intend to become an author, or do you have a specific reason or reasons for writing a book?

It was in 7th grade when I wrote a love letter to my class teacher. It was her response to let me know that I’ve written a beautiful letter. This ignited a fire of writer in me, which I only realized later post overcoming my hormones changes in the later stage of life. This answer might sound funny to many, but like an innocent prisoner, I stand by it.