Author: Sindhu Vinod Narayan

Ex IT professional. Now a freelance writer, editor, translator & influencer. My blog is a reflection of my thoughts on skincare, fashion, book reviews and wellness.
Posted on

Review of Urban insanity

BLURB

In this urban life, where each day can drive us insane, we crave sanity, tranquility and yearn to achieve it. You can only attain the code to live your life by keeping your mind, heart and soul as sorted as much possible. Only then your mind and your physical being can feel the essence of living. When you relate to someone like you, you resonate to life and to the craziness that life has brought you to. We have made simplicity extinct and complexities exist with our jumbled minds. So let’s open this jumble with Urban Insanity.

‘A few realities are bitter and the rest are too sweet. To those things that are priceless in life, we shall never take them for granted.

MY REVIEW

The book contains a collection of short chapters each talking about different aspects of life like karma, culture, relationship, and life goals.

Each story talks about a single aspect and is explained with a story. The quotes by the author are really very good and apt for the current trend of life.

The book speaks about the culture of urban life and what impacts does it impose on us human beings.

Though the book has very few number of pages, I took a lot of time to read and understand the author’s message that was to be conveyed.

Self introspection, gender stereotypes and the discussions surrounding the topics make a book quite an interesting read. The illustrations and quotes are cute. Listing down a favourite below.

I thought I am where I imagined,

But then I dreamt more.

The author’s POV on certain places is genuine and acceptable.

The language is simple and is easy for anyone to read. There are no complexities in understanding what the author is trying to convey.

The comparisons that the author used were seriously out of box marriage with a cocoon and life with Bombay sandwich.

If you are looking for a self- help book touching modern thinkings this should be your go-to book.

BOOK DETAILS

Publisher : Notion press, Inc.

Pages : 144

MY RATINGS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Saheba Atal is a business scholar, spiritual learner, and an innovative thinker. She studied at the University of Delhi and pursued her Masters’ degree at the University of Wollongong, Dubai. She is a promoter of positive, practical thinking and the progression of the mind to higher levels. Being an avid traveller, she has learned and observed many cultures and sub-cultures of the eastern and western world closely.

She is studying Anthropology and Sociology along with her Ph.D. in Consumer Behaviour.
The idea of this book culminated through the emotions that we as social beings go through with the ups and downs in life which surprises our emotional and mental capabilities and capacities many a times.

Posted on

Review of Divyastra

BLURB
“Thousands of years ago, Indian Yogis possessed the knowledge to obtain the weapons of the gods. However, this knowledge could only be transferred from a Guru to his disciple by word of mouth. In today’s world, one mystic, who calls himself Guruji, still possesses this knowledge and is using it to empower an innocent person’s life. Only, this empowerment could be a deception and the innocent person is a thirteen year old boy with a stutter… In this intertwining tale, an ambitious yet unsuccessful Shankar, in search of his identity, is manipulated to embark on a never-told-before fantasy tale; only to rediscover the father he never knew and unmask the mystical Guruji. Amidst this confounding concoction of ancient myths, deluding personas and dispersed emotions, will Shankar ever be able to separate fact from fiction and find his true identity?”

MY REVIEW

The book is a definite must in the list of people who love mythological thriller. With this book going in rounds in social media say promos or reviews ,it sure did create a lot of attention.

The book starts with an eminent physicist, giving a lecture to a mass gathering. During the course of his lecture he is being questioned by a young lad who seems to be intellectual,but does have a lot of questions in mind and those definitely would need to be answered only by Vyas, the scientist.The young lad has a flashback which has a connection with what is happening currently.

The lecture was given with the thought that the modern weapons that are being created or developed were actually in existence as per the ancient scriptures and Vedas.What does the title divyastra mean? What connection does it have in the story between a physicist and the young man.

The author has done a commendable job taking us through the plot. No place in the book gives you a feeling to keep the book down. The book does not bring in complicated terms. There is a glossary behind incase you need it.The parts of lecture explaining the existence of weapons in ancient times does give us a lot of information. This really shows the amount of effort put in by the author.

The narration is simple and lucid. The blurb not revealing any of the mystery in the book is another positive aspect.

BOOK DETAILS

Publisher : WorditCDE

Pages : 233

MY RATINGS

Title 4/5

Plot 4/5

Cover 4/5

Writing and presentation 4/5

Overall 4/5

Posted on

Book blitz – Kingdom of Jior

KingdomofJoir

Hey Fantasy lovers! I have your next series right here! Check out the Kingdom of Jior series by Wendy L. Anderson. Below are a few snippets from each book to get you started and a chance to win the whole series in print!

Of Demon Kind

34731822

Publication Date: November 14th, 2016

Publisher: Infinity Publishing

Prince Lorn of Jior is what’s left of an evil empire. King Kullorn was the epitome of evil. Together they led demon hordes reaping death and destruction. Kullorn is killed, leaving Lorn alone to wallow in the desolation of defeat. Years later, Lorn is accused of following in his father’s footsteps and kidnapping Princess Lililaira. Risking capture, imprisonment and death Lorn attempts to learn who is using his name to start another war. During a rescue of the Princess, Lorn is badly wounded and they must fight to remain together as he is healed by her, body, heart and soul.

Memories of how life used to be, circled through Lorn’s mind as he
contemplated the events of five years ago. His father, King Kullorn of
Jior, had raised him with one purpose in mind and that was to lead the
Jiorian armies out of the Violent Mountains and conquer the entire island
continent of Vedt. Kullorn had been an evil tyrant who had reigned over the
once vast empire of Jior that was now only jagged mountains, left to the
encroaching forest and wild animals.

Goodreads
Amazon

39898786

Redemption of the Fallen

Publication Date: April 17th, 2018

Publisher: Infinity Publishing
Five years have passed since Lorn liberated himself from Lan-Loe, his evil father’s Sorcerer. Legends were born from tales of the great battle between Lorn and a black-winged demon, of Lan-Loe’s death, and the defeat of demon-kind. Ever since that time, people have been flocking to Jior to make their homes there, and the Kingdom of Jior is revived. Lorn is crowned King of Jior, Lililaira is Queen and they rule peacefully side by side.
Now a new war threatens everything they have built and everyone they love. One hundred miles away from the City of Jior, the combined armies of Vedt march toward Jior intent on slaying everyone in the kingdom and taking revenge for Lorn’s past evil deeds. With the forces of the whole country coming against them, Lorn and Lililaira have little hope of defeating their enemies.
In the midst of impending war, strange dreams plague Lorn’s sleep at night. He feels that something is waiting, something he needs very badly, something is calling him!
When he answers the call, he learns that he is a descendant of a race of winged people that profess to be from the Heavens. He also learns more about his past and is given hope for the future, but that hope comes with a high price. Lorn is given a choice: he can save his family or watch them die.
Lililaira and their daughter are taken prisoner by her father, the King of Skoria, Lorn must call on all his resources to rescue them. Forced out of the protective walls of Jior, he must face his many enemies who use his wife and daughter as bait. King Lorn must deal with old enemies and new friends, but will he be able to tell the difference?

Strange dreams plagued his sleep at night. At first, he thought the dreams
were caused by apprehension over the news of the army advancing on Jior.
Each night the dreams seemed to grow more urgent, and he could not assign
blame to that cause anymore. As soon as he closed his eyes, images of a
strange place haunted him. Night after night he dreamed of the same
mountaintop. On the high peak stood an ancient structure with tall marble
columns, circling a huge stone floor. The columns did not support anything
solid but seemed to hold up the deep blue sky that quickly swelled with
impending snowfall. The wind swirled ice crystals through the columns and
seemed to call his name in the whispery tinkle of ice against stone. Lorn
felt compelled to fly west. He strained to resist the compunction, telling
himself it was the greatest folly to think that a place from his dreams
truly existed and that he could find it.

Goodreads
Amazon

44033265

Heirs of Jior

Publication Date: February 27th, 2019

Publisher: Infinity Publishing

This set of adventures starts out with Princess Lyra Song, young and beautiful, stepping into maturity. She and her family attend the funeral of a dear friend. During this sad time, she pursues her hopes and dreams endeavoring to explore a betrothal with the Heir of Krickgold. However, when she is mistaken for a witch by a Lord from a neighboring country, her dreams are dangerously interrupted. Waylaid, taken prisoner and thrown into an iron cage, the delicate Princess of Jior is charged with a crime she didn’t commit and she must do whatever it takes to escape or be wrongfully executed.

Prince Vannier of Jior, known to the Ny-Failen as Little Wing, has been devastated by what happened to his sister Lyra Song, but life must go on and he goes forward with his plan to marry his childhood love. The day of the wedding ceremony he finds his betrothed with another man and now he must face devastating reality and some difficult choices. When his younger brother Dark Star goes missing, Vannier must set aside his own problems to go into the Violent Mountains and find who has taken his little brother. Amidst the turmoil of the hunt, Vannier must face danger, loss, and possible heartbreak.

Dark Star, the youngest Prince of Jior, has been changed forever by the events of his capture and he remains troubled and unable to find peace. A mysterious compelling draws him away from the safety of his home and family. He sets off on his own to investigate and finds a black castle and a beautiful sorceress in dire need of his help. Dark Star must face a demon from the Hells to free them both.

Panic struck like a lightning bolt, and he stood up and whirled around,
taking stock of the boundaries of his prison. It was nearly his undoing as
pain, nausea and dizziness overtook him. Since his capture by the Troggs a
few years back, Dark Star could not stand confined spaces. His wings beat
against his back as if telling him to fly and escape. Searching for a door
or exit, he could not find one, so he threw himself against the bars on all
four sides, testing their strength. He flew up to the barred cage top and
heaved. It was no use, he was imprisoned in a strong, heavy, iron prison,
and that was all there was to it. He was locked in with no way out, like a
bird in a cage. His brain kept screaming over and over, ‘Not again! Not
again!’ and he flapped uselessly around the confines of his cage until the
pain in his head forced him to stop. Tamping down hard on his terror,
concentrating on settling his breathing, he stood in the middle of his cage,
wrapped his wings around himself and huddled within their protective
embrace. Closing his eyes, he retreated into his mind and waited.

It seemed like hours later when the sound of a door opening and closing
reached through his self-imposed trance. The faint glow of a lamp barely
drew Dark Star’s attention. He was standing completely still, cocooned
within his white wings watching through barely slit eyes. He had withdrawn
into his own mind, holding madness at bay.

Goodreads
Amazon

giveaway gif

For your chance to win a paperback set of the whole series, click the link below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

16643855

Wendy L. Anderson is a Colorado native and mother of two boys. She has an English Degree from Regis University and writes books, short stories and poetry. Wendy is a devout reader of the classics, fantasy, sci-fi and historical fiction. She has decided it is time to write down the fantasies from her own mind. Writing about everything from fantastical worlds to the stuff of her dreams she takes her stories along interesting paths while portraying characters and worlds she sees in her mind’s eye. Her goal is to deviate from common themes, write in original directions and transport her reader to the worlds of her creation.

Wendy L. Anderson | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Book Blitz Organized By:

R&RButto200x200
R&R Book Tours

Posted on

Review of Sanjana’s seduction

BLURB:
Sanjana is a beautiful Indian woman, in love with and married to Rohit for ten years – a man who has recently cheated on her. As she tries to recover from Rohit’s corrosive impact on her life, Sanjana reaches out to her sister Radhika for solace. With Radhika’s help, Sanjana rediscovers the pleasures of casual sex and in doing so, rediscovers her own sexuality and happiness.

MY REVIEW:

The book is a short fast paced read that can be finished in almost half an hour.

As the title claims you are openly given an idea of what the book is about or what genre the book would be about. It is strictly advised that only mature adults pick this up.

The book is of erotica genre that is evident from the title. The narration was good and done well at places.

The plot is about Sanjana , a lady who experiments casual relationships in the midst of her divorce with Rohit. The plot does not speak about how the marriage happened or why did it fall apart. It starts with Sanjana masturbating. She goes crazy seeing an actor on screen.

I quickly finished the book during lunch break and sat down for a review. This is the first book in the edge of ecstasy series.

Do pick this if you are looking for a quick read in erotica.

BOOK DETAILS:

  • Publication date: 10 Apr 2019
  • Publisher: Srishti Publishers & Distributors
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B07Q7N2R1Z

MY RATINGS:

Title -3.5/5

Writing and presentation -3.5/5

Plot -3.5/5

Cover -3.5/5

Overall -3.5/5

Posted on

Book blitz – Jay jay the supersonic bus

Jay-Jay the bus is rescued from the dirty scrap yard, where he was sadly gathering dust and cobwebs. Feeling nervous yet excited, he is taken to an airport where he is magically transformed into a ‘Playbus’ full of toys, games and adventure.
A fictional tale based on a real-life bus ‘Supersonic’, which flew in the imaginations of the many young children who visited it.

MY REVIEW:

The book is a short read and I must say kids would really enjoy reading the little adventure that is about to unwrap.

The book is about a bus from the scrapyard being transformed into a playbus. The books brings out the emotions that the bus has initially when it thinks what would happen to.

The way the bus is being modified to keep little Children engaged will surely have the kids reading the book also want to experience the same.

The illustrations are bright and colourful which support the story to a great extent. I love the narration and I am sure that kids will find it easier to read on their own. I am just waiting for my daughter to grow up and read this wonderful book.

Purchase Links –
Web site: http://www.suewickstead.co.uk

http://bit.ly/JJKSupersonic – Amazon .co.uk
http://amzn.to/2BxvU2l – Amazon .com
Waterstones http://bit.ly/2F9DSQ5
WH Smiths http://bit.ly/2TtCr2I
Book depository http://bit.ly/2Ax6VcZ
Foyles http://bit.ly/2Ffm71U
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/2GXLTdq
Jay-Jay the Supersonic Bus will be 99p until 22nd April.
Special Blitz offer: A free 3D bus which can be claimed via web site ‘Enquiry button using ref code JJay (www.suewickstead.co.uk)
Additional bus models and books also offered as a promotion on request.

Author Bio in her own words
I am a teacher and an author and have currently written six children’s picture books with a bus theme.
For over 20 years, alongside my teaching career, I worked with a Children’s Charity, The Bewbush Playbus Association, which led me to write a photographic history book about it.
I soon found that many children had never been on a bus before, let alone a ‘Playbus’ and they wanted to know more. I decided to write a fictional tale about the bus, his number plate JJK261 gave him his name.
‘Jay-Jay the Supersonic Bus,’ came out in print in 2014. It is the story behind the original bus and is his journey from a scrap-yard to being changed into a playbus for children to play in. From Fact to fiction the bus journey continued.
This story has now been followed by five more picture books.
I also undertake events and author bookings and love to share the story. There are also a few more stories in the writing process, with links to real events and buses.

The story has been read in many schools in the south-East of England, where I teach as a cover teacher, it is always well received and certainly different.
Social Media Links –
https://www.suewickstead.co.uk/
Facebook: – Author Page http://bit.ly/2kEEhPq
http://bit.ly/2kXfjdj – Bewbush Playbus
http://bit.ly/2BZiews – Teacher in the cupboard
Twitter https://twitter.com/JayJayBus
Giveaway to Win Jay-Jay and the Island Adventure (UK Only)
*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
OR if you don’t like html or are on WordPress
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494213/?

Posted on

Book blitz of extinction of all children



Extinction of All Children
L.J. Epps
(Extinction of All Children #1)
Publication date: June 4th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

A young adult, fantasy novel about a teenager who is the last eighteen-year-old in her territory. There will never be another child; every baby born after her has been taken away. Everyone wonders why she survived.

Emma Whisperer was born in 2080, in the small futuristic world of Craigluy. President Esther, in charge for the last twenty-two years, has divided their world into three territories, separated by classes—the rich, the working class, and the poor—because she believes the poor should not mingle with the others. And, the poor are no longer allowed to have children, since they do not have the means to take care of them.

Any babies born, accidentally or willfully, are killed. Emma is the last eighteen-year-old in her territory; every baby born after her has died. Somehow, she survived this fate.

During the president’s Monday night speech, she announces a party will be held to honor the last child in the territory, Emma Whisperer. Emma must read a speech, expressing how happy she is to be the last eighteen-year-old.

Emma doesn’t like the rules; she doesn’t believe in them. So, she feels she must rebel against them. Her family doesn’t agree with her rebellion, since they are hiding a big secret.

If this secret gets out, it will be disastrous, and deadly, for her family.

During Emma’s journey, she meets—and becomes friends with—Eric. He is one of the guards for the president. She also befriends Samuel, another guard for the president, who is summoned to watch over her. As Emma meets new people, she doesn’t know who she can trust. Yet, she finds herself falling for a guy, something which has never happened before.

After doing what she feels is right, Emma finds herself in imminent danger.

In the end, she must make one gut-wrenching decision, a decision that may be disastrous for them all.

“Fans of dystopian fantasy will devour this book. L. J. Epps writes a story that, while dealing with heavy subject matter, is still a light, enjoyable read. This dystopian fantasy novel ignites the imagination, and is a must read for fans of The Hunger Games and the Divergent Trilogy.”

—Kristina Gemmell, Beta Reader

Goodreads / Amazon

The complete series:

  

—

EXCERPT:

I take in a deep breath before walking into my family’s house. Our brick home is around a thousand square feet. My father says since it is on the smaller side, it takes a lot less money to heat and cool. The back of the house is like a forest, and the front of the house is on a dirt road with lots of gravel. As soon as I reach the front door, I notice the stench of beans lingering in the air, making the room smell as if a skunk has run through it.

“You’re late,” my brother, Theodore, says. “You know dinner is at six.”

He shoves my arm. He has on dark clothing that mirrors my own.

“Whatever,” I say, rolling my eyes. Another stupid rule. “It’s almost eight.” I glance at the brown clock on the wall. “Shouldn’t you be done?”

“We had to stop what we were doing and watch the box,” he says, then he gulps down a bottle of water.

His Adam’s apple moves in and out, while the bottle crinkles in his hand.

“Yes, the announcements came early.” My father rises from the dining room table. “I’m sure you heard them.”

He walks to the living room where I am.

“I did.” I lower my eyes.

“Where were you?” Mother asks. “We were worried.”

“I know, and I’m sorry, but I’m fine. I watched the announcements from the supply store.”

I know they worry about me, but I also know they won’t ask how I ended up at the supply store, or ask why my jeans are dirty. There is a more pressing question they want to ask.

“Did you see her?” my mother asks.

“Yes,” I reply.

Now that is what they really care about.

“How was she?”

“I guess as good as she can be.” I shrug.

“What does that mean?” my mother asks with a frown. “You’re not giving me any details.”

I sigh. It was the same questions every time I go to the wooded area. Another sigh follows because my heart saddens, seeing how old my mother looks. She is only in her fifties, but I can see the gray strands in her dark hair instantly becoming grayer every time we discuss this. Even when I bring back food, my mother is too tense to eat. Day by day she is growing thinner.

“Emma, answer your mother,” my father says, looking at me with slanted eyes.

“If you want to know how she is, why don’t you go and see her yourself?” I snap back. I’m tired of the theatrics. But it was a stupid question. I know why they can’t go. They aren’t strong enough or fast enough.

“You know your mother moves too slowly. She would never make it there,” my father says, echoing the very words in my head.


Author Bio:

L.J. Epps is a lover of all things related to books: fiction and nonfiction novels, as well as biographies and autobiographies. She has also been known to sit and read comic books from cover to cover, several times over.

Over the last few years, L.J. has written several manuscripts; her mission is to publish all of them. She enjoys writing fiction in several genres, including contemporary romance and women’s fiction, as well as young adult dystopian, science fiction and fantasy. She loves to write because it immerses her into another world that is not her own.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter


GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

XBTBanner1

Posted on

Review of Bestseller

BLURB:

Akshay Saxena, an out of work editor of a defunct literary magazine in the UK, is told to move to India for a year to help shore up the value of Kalim, an ailing Indian publisher. Akshay finds himself in a job where he has to do the impossible. Angus Lee, the new owner of Thomson Lee Books, wants at least five bestsellers in the coming year, failing which the business would be wound up. He has to find a way of making a success out of books he would never publish or would never even read. To complicate things further, he has to contend with motley crew of has-beens and misfits working for the publishing house as well as wannabe writers, dealing with their follies and derisive tactics, and battle his own affections for Zorah Kalim, the impulsive daughter of his former boss. Will he succeed in bringing out that one ‘bestseller’ from his publishing house? And what about his own life and love in office? Find out in this riveting read.

MY REVIEW:

A sudden burst of reviews and promos for the book really did make me want to read this. And must say the decision to buy this was worthy. Writing something about the publishing business in India and with elements of friendship, romance in it couldn’t have been widely thought of.

The author has taken up a different plot for the satire genre and has done complete justice to it. The books clearly lists out the various happenings that take place when a book is into publishing to become a “bestseller”. The humorous elements out into the plot makes it an engaging read.

The book is about an Indian who returns from UK and takes up an Indian publishing house job and to revive the business of the failed enterprise. Does he keep up his job by Publishing five bestsellers a year is the rest of the story.

It is a light read and a great book to go with your relaxing time. The book cover makes more sense as you progress through reading the book. The plot could be easily visualized giving credit to the narration and the simplicity in writing.

Overall it was an engaging read and I would definitely recommend this to people who prefer humor since there are a lot of LOL moments in the book making it an interesting read.

BOOK DETAILS:

  • Paperback:196 pages
  • Publisher:Rupa Publications India (3 November 2018)
  • Language:English
  • ISBN-10:9353332648
  • ISBN-13:978-9353332648

MY RATINGS:

Title: 4/5

Writing and presentation: 4/5

Plot:4/5

Cover: 4/5

Overall: 4/5

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ahmed Faiyaz is the bestselling author of Love, Life & All That Jazz…, Another Chance, Scammed and the editor of the Urban Shots anthologies. He was born and raised in Bengaluru. Apart from being a passionate writer, he dabbles with film-making and travels to lesser-known destinations to better understand life and the times we live in. He lives and works in Dubai, with his two boys and their tabby cat named, Bob.

Posted on

Review of lost and found in Banaras

BLURB:

Banaras celebrates death, but what does it do to the living dead? When three-year-old Brinda is widowed after being married for a few hours, her family refuses to take her back in. Deemed ‘munhoos’, she finds her way to Nirmala Ashram in Banaras where she leads a life of child widow under the watchful eye of Vasanti Bua and her friend, Debi. She and Debi are just another shade of white in the city’s numerous ‘white shadows’ until Sia and Uday return to Banaras. As visitors to the ancient city, they assumed that the unfinished stories of their past were long behind them. Little did they know that Banaras was waiting with its unspent debt and the dishonest voices would find their way back to them in Brinda and Debi. Will Banaras, standing at the crossroads between the ancient and the modern, help them expiate? Will they find what they once lost—love, longing or perhaps nirvana?

MY REVIEW:

A sober read that brings up the lives of innocent widows in Banaras is the story in this book. The book starts off with young Brinda and her brothers playing. Brinda is young, I mean very just that she is 3 years old. The house in the village is gearing up for a major celebration. No you’re wrong if you assume it would be the carnival or temple fest, it’s Brinda’s marriage. Yes, you heard me right, the three year old girl is being married off to an eleven year old boy, Biswaas.

The celebrations take place in a grand manner. Brinda is married to Biswaas who is from another village. So soon after the marriage and feast she is being sent off. Biswaas seemed disinterested right from when the marriage talks were on. Brinda cries her lungs out when she is being sent, but that is how it is in the villages. Upon her arrival she is welcomed by the siblings and her mother in law. Few moments later there is a strong downpour after which there are floods. The entire family except her father in law is lost and she keeps sobbing. When taken back to her village, things are not in their favor and she is marked as a sign of bad omen. Her brother Jhulan takes up an oath to come see her soon.So the father in law who is suffering a deadly ailment is forced to send her to Nirmala ashram run by Vasanti Bua , a home for the widows.

She being the youngest takes time to settle but is close with Debi upon whom there are numerous eye of the landlord for flesh trade. Vasanti Bua, safeguards her from the evil eyes and runs the ashram. Sia who returns to Banaras wants to bring this out to the world and give these young women a better place to live. Uday, a journalist photographer, stumbles upon SIa who then enlightens him the current situation. What happens next? Does Brinda meet her brother, what happened to Biswaas, Does Sia reunite with her love? Who takes over the ashram after Vasanti Bua is the rest of the story.

The author takes the plot in a slow pace and the sufferings of the widows and condition of the ashram is something we worry off. The vocabulary used is simple and easy to understand. It is a slow read and took me a couple of days to finish. I would not say this is a gripping read, but has a different style on its own.

The cover design could have been better. The characterization is done well with few characters playing their part. Nothing is over exaggerated. The narrations with respect to Sia’s life flashback could have been briefed instead of a longer write up.

BOOK DETAILS:

  • Paperback:232 pages
  • Publisher:Readomania (17 August 2018)
  • Language:English
  • ISBN-10:9385854666
  • ISBN-13:978-9385854668

MY RATINGS:

Title: 4/5

Writing and presentation: 3.5/5

Plot:4/5

Cover: 3.5/5

Overall: 3.75/5

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mona Verma is an alumni of prestigious Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi and an award winning author of 6 works of fiction, A Bridge to Nowhere, God is a River, the White Shadow, the Clown of Whitefields and other stories, the Other and Lost and Found in Banaras. She had edited various science journals, self -help books, biographies and is a regular feature writer for online newspapers. She is on board of various Universities as an advisory expert and is much sought as visiting faculty for Creative writing, Haiku and Limericks. She is now a member of FICCI and member of Writers’ meet called for by Governor of Uttarakhand, at Rajbhawan Dehradun. A Paul Harris fellow, she actively volunteers with Interplast, Germany and Rotary International foundation for the treatment of surgical accidents and burns victims. Recently, she has been honored with the executive membership in the Management Committee of Anushruti, a social initiative of IIT, Roorkee for the exemplary work done for the special children at Anushruti. She is also serving as a member of the Academic Review Committee with Anushruti, IIT Roorkee. Presently, she co-owns and runs her firm Disha, an education consultancy and thought leading initiative, which deals with corporate, organizational and faculty/student trainings in schools and Universities. Apart from the above, she has a keen interest in classical music, charcoal sketching, oil painting, photography and travel.

Posted on

Who is a feminist? #writebravely #celebratewritetribe

A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men. – Gloria Steinem

I happen to come across this the first time. This made me search about Gloria Steinem and my, my what brilliant quotes she came up with. Each has an inner meaning and an underlying truth. Most of it contains truth about being a feminist. So, I thought why not pick up few that would influence me to be a better woman. I will list them out in the order I liked them.

A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle.

This conveys the logic that the fish lives happily without the bicycle so in the same analogy a woman can also live well without a man.

A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men.

Anyone who believes in equality of both sex and trusts that both have equal right and opportunities in all fields can be deemed to be a feminist.

“I believe that change comes from the bottom, not the top.”.

We cannot expect a change to happen from the top of the pyramid. Only when it starts from the bottom, it can be set right on the top.

‪”Self-esteem isn’t everything; it’s just that there’s nothing without it.”

This statement is self- explainable. If you see there is nothing more than self-respect, we have. But she also deems that it isn’t everything.

‪”So whatever you want to do, just do it…Making a damn fool of yourself is absolutely essential.”

The above statement says that we can do all it takes just to accomplish what we want, so making a fool of our self is essential. Why don’t we go that extra mile to achieve our goal and why bother if the world thinks you are a fool.

‪”We need to remember across generations that there is as much to learn as there is to teach.”

We all think of teaching our kids, what we learnt from our ancestors, but we fail to realize that the reverse is also important. We have so much to learn from them compared to what we would want to let them know.

‪”Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all is a form of planning.”

We fail to understand that dreaming would help us plan, think out of box by imagining. This does give us a number of possibilities. But we generally don’t do it.

‪”If the shoe doesn’t fit, must we change the foot?”

Yes, that’s true. If it doesn’t fit, we should be looking for another shoe and not think about changing the foot. As this is normally put, when things don’t work by the plan, try changing the plan and not what we are trying to achieve.

“Far too many people are looking for the right person, instead of trying to be the right person.”

This is absolutely bang on. We also look for the right person who should match the qualities we are looking for. Instead we fail to notice if we in the first place are equally good.

“The art of life is not controlling what happens to us, but using what happens to us.”

This is a gem. We should try to learn from what life gives us, instead sitting all day to set things right for a perfect day. Every experience is a learning. We have no control upon an extent to what life is holding for us, but what actually happens can give us a valuable lesson and we can make use of it.

Every statement of Gloria does leave us thinking. I loved all of the above. I hope that would influence me to be a better person and I hope that you would benefit too.

I’m Writing Bravely for the Write Tribe Festival of Words – March 2019’.

Posted on

What does the pea pod say ? #writebravely #celebratewritetribe

Let me just jot down what all comes to my mind seeing the picture of pea pod.

The simile two peas in pod is often used to describe two people who are virtually indistinguishable. But is that possible. We do see that children from the same mother or siblings in fact have sharp district traits and aren’t similar. But this simile still does seem to be used.

The peas in the pea pod looks like feelings inside us. The moment you tear it; the feelings ooze out like the peas from the pod.

The pod symbolizes protection that it offers the peas inside right from very they were teeny tiny and now when they are mature pearls.

Even though the peas inside the pod looks really tender and fresh the pod that protects it is strong. This can be taken as a comparison that even though we humans are tender inside, we should not show off to the outside world, we should be strong enough to face anything and everything.

Pea pod can be compared to the mother having her child in womb, the pea pod protects, nourishes, gives enough sunlight and dampness that is apt for the pea pods. That wonder of nature is so beautifully created by God.

Let us learn what the small tiny creation of nature is trying to tell us.

I am also reminded of the story of princess and the pea.

It goes about like this..

Wherein when the queen wants to know if the girl really does suit her prince. She place a pea pod inside the mattress of the girl before she sleeps. Throughout the night the girl twists and turns trying to sleep but she couldn’t. In the morning when the queen asks her, she says she slept peacefully like a baby. The queen comes to know she could never get a girl even more suitable for her prince and is happy to get her married and they lived happily ever after.

SO here the pea pod plays an important part is testing the qualities of the girl. So isn’t this tiny creation playing an important role.

I’m Writing Bravely for the Write Tribe Festival of Words – March 2019’