Sindhublogs – That Madras Mom

September 25, 2018

Review of Twenty three : Collection of short stories by Bikramjit Sen #myfriendalexa

twenty three: collection of short stories

BLURB:

Everyone has a story to tell or a story that deserves to be told. Since no person is the same, everyone’s life is a unique tale. This uniqueness of different lives is honoured by Twenty Three: Collection of Short Stories that narrates the lives of various people. Twenty Three tells all kinds of stories, ranging from stories of ordinary people to those of paranormal entities. So, step into different dimensions as you flip through the various stories of Twenty Three.

MY REVIEW:

Well the book is a collection of 23 short stories just as the title says. Each portraying a different human emotion. The authors thoughts before each chapter is something that would not be liked by all. Since at places it seems like it takes too much importance drifting away the focus.

While some stories are exception, some led to a drag to the pace that was already set by the previous chapters. The book speaks about death, re-incarnation, psychology, spirituality. This shows the author’s interests on the topics.

Some of the emotions portrayed are those which are neglected by us. The author should be applauded for making each emotion a center of focus in each chapter.

Outer, Heated, the legendary tale of Jatayu are few chapters I personally liked.

The characterization was very well maintained throughout each chapter. The narration was excellent and played a pivotal role making the book a definite page turner.

A commendable job on the cover design which is a portrayal of colors depicting emotions surrounding the human life.

The editing was perfect; amongst the recent books I’ve read.

twenty three: collection of short stories

BOOK DETAILS:

Format:Kindle Edition
File Size:3080 KB
Print Length:178 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN:1948321254
Publisher:Notion Press; 1 edition (16 December 2017)
Sold by:Amazon Asia-Pacific Holdings Private Limited
Language:English
ASIN:B078BG7R1D

The book is available on amazon https://amzn.to/2zpldfC

MY RATINGS:

Cover: 4.5/5

Title: 3.5/5

plot: 4/5

Writing and Presentation: 4/5

Overall: 4/5

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Bikramjit believes he is an old soul. He was born in the City of Joy (Kolkata, India) on Friday the 13th in the wintry December of 1996.

He’s a student of English at Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University (Uttar Pradesh). He presently resides in the Capital of Nawabs (Lucknow, India) with his mother, Mausumi Sen, and father, Surajit Sen. He is the only son of his parents.

He immensely loves being a writer. Sometimes, we need people like him to motivate us to follow our passions. Since childhood, he always has been inquisitive towards topics regarding philosophy, mythology, religious history, paranormality and finds of ancient times.

He is an introverted person who loves being in Mother Nature’s lap. He is very intelligent and contended, not wild at all. He just loves his freedom and doesn’t let his heart settle in a cage. He is always willing to burn for everything he has ever loved. He’s one of a kind. He’s divine, and he doesn’t have to wait for anyone to tell him so in order to believe that about himself. That’s what makes him so inspiring.

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September 21, 2018

Never ending list of pregnancy myths #myfriendalexa

Pregnancy is deemed the best phase of being a woman. Being born a woman attains full glory when she becomes a mother.

But it’s also the timeline where you get to hear a lot of myths. Not only in our Country, it happens all over the world. So let me list them down for you and you can comment if you came across something more. So let’s get those myths busted.

It starts with the date you conceive. Add the month of conception to your age, the total is even it’s a girl else you’re in for a boy.

Then comes morning sickness, if you have it throughout your first trimester then it’s a girl else if you don’t experience it you have a boy.

Pregnancy glow People have different versions here.

Indian:

“You’re glowing you definitely will have a girl” is what you hear and if it’s the other way , you look tired and dull they say you are having a boy , since the male child draws out all the energy.

Rest of the world:

If you’re dull it means you have a girl, since she takes up all your glow. And if you are glowing and look fabulous you will have a boy.

Carrying high or low, wide or outward:

If you are carrying low and belly is outward, you are probably carrying a boy.

If you are carrying high and belly is wide you are carrying a girl.

Food habits:

If you crave sweets and dairy rich stuff, you are probably carrying a girl.

If you crave salty and spicy food, you are probably carrying a boy.

Doesn’t it depend on what the woman usually wants to eat?

Fetal heart rate:

If it is over 140 per second you are carrying a girl and if it’s below, you are carrying a boy.

Swelling of nose:

They say if you have a swollen nose it’s probably a girl.

But the actual fact our noses swollen up due to increased estrogen levels.

Wedding ring myth:

Tie a strand of the father’s hair to your wedding ring and swing it over your belly, you are probably carrying a girl if it goes in circles; if it swings back and forth then it’s a boy.

Doesn’t it depend on wind direction?

Stepping over ropes:

It’s considered that stepping on a rope results in umbilical cord coiling around the fetus neck.

In modern days, now it extends to electric chords as well.

Usage of hands:

Ancient days people say If the pregnant woman is seated on floor and when she tries to get up, if she uses her left hand first it would be a boy; if its right you would be carrying a girl.

I don’t think that would change once a woman becomes pregnant. Even when she was ten she would have been using the same hand to get up.

Whatever the above points seem to convey what all mothers want is to have a healthy, cheerful baby. Gender discrimination should not be taking a priority here. No mother will want to abandon a child just because she was expecting the other gender. In the end, he/she is another tiny living human being created by her and who is now dependent on her.

Keep having positive thoughts, surround yourself with loads of happiness, positive vibes and most importantly people with positive vibes. Keep yourself well hydrated and well-fed. And that is all that takes to see your little dude/duddette.

Let’s hear those myths coming and keep nodding heads; get the myths busted. I will always love my baby no matter he/she. A baby is a baby.

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September 11, 2018September 13, 2018

Review of Sneak peak by Krishna Kumar nair

BLURB:

THIS BOOK IS FOR ALL THOSE DARING HEARTS, WHO HAVE SECRETS OF THEIR OWN AND WOULD WANT TO CONFESS A FEW IN FRONT OF OTHERS. Sneak Peak will take you through a time when APPLE was still a fruit, children spend time playing with each other rather than in front of computers and a time when people rescued a dying person instead of taking their video and posting on Facebook. There was a simpler time in the 80’s and 90’s and those who lived those times and who didn’t, will equally love what you are going to read here. It’s not my story but it is yours too! The hero of this story is not Dhyankumar but the story itself. Here Dhyankumar closely post-mortems the various phases in his life, how he felt and how different it would have been, or should have been, had he thought in a different way. The book deeply emphasizes the values of friendship and how it can change one’s life and sometimes destroy the same.

MY REVIEW:

The book is of a different genre from the current trend that prevails. I felt like reading out from a diary of kind born in 90’s, keeping in mind I am one such. It brings out numerous nostalgic incidents.

It speaks about an era of no social media intervention. Yes, that’s right no mobile phones, no tabs. Leading a simple life enjoying a vacation with no social media check-ins, hanging out with cousins, TV series and cartoon and most important of all staying with our grandparents. Isn’t that a wonderful feel, staying as a complete family with many people and relatives, helping each other out, laughing, sharing. This I feel is something that the current generation is missing out on.

Though we have several advancements in technology and comforts at all levels, the concrete jungle can never equal the above mentioned joys.

The book is about a protagonist Dhyankumar who introspects the various phases of his life. The narration portrays his life filled with love and affection as a boon of staying with grandparents. A couple of mischievous events and few confessions make it an interesting read.

The pace of the story seems to be slow at places and characterization needs betterment. The cover design could have been improved. With no surprise elements the narration is pretty good except for the slow-paced parts which seem dragging. The language is simple and crisp making this a good choice for one time read.

MY RATINGS:

Cover: 3/5

Title 3.5/5

Plot: 4/5

Writing and Presentation: 4/5

Overall: 4/5

BOOK DETAILS:

Title : Sneak peak
Author: Krishna kumar nair
Genre: Realistic fiction

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 3259 KB
Print Length: 142 pages
Publisher: Half Baked Beans (26 July 2018)
Sold by: Amazon Asia-Pacific Holdings Private Limited
Language: English
ASIN: B07FY9KL7N

The book is available on Amazon https://amzn.to/2O3kW7d

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September 11, 2018September 13, 2018

Review of Hungry Gods by Richa Lakhera

BLURB:

Beaten and brutally raped, her body is never found. However, the killers make one mistake. They leave a witness, a witness who has nothing to live for except revenge. And when he crosses the boundaries of time to make the guilty pay, a whole lot of dark characters come to light. There is Valentine, the superstar brand ambassador who sells anything for a price; there is Medici, a pharmaceutical company fraudulently manufacturing banned drugs; there is the perverted and sinister minded Dr Ranga and there is Este, the prostitute whose dark secret will blow up a daughter’s sanity. So, is there another murder waiting to happen? Will Police Inspector Dorab Silva be able to connect the clues to prevent another crime? Will these gods of greed be exposed? And yes, you will be surprised by who you will find there, finally. Deeply unsettling, Hungry Gods takes a hard look at greed for wealth and power.

MY REVIEW:

The first thing that struck me when I was asked if I can review this book was what made the author choose this name. I initially thought that it was something of mythological sorts but when I googled and saw the cover my opinion was completely proved wrong. The cover design conveys a lot. In fact that’s one of the stand out features of this book. I went through the blurb and which made me even more anxious that was eagerly waiting that the book would get delivered to me sooner.

The book is based on the tagline Drugs, Sex Cults, a horrific crime and an unthinkable revenge. The revenge here is by a son who witnesses him mom being abused and killed by a group. Bu the way in which the narration is taken is what which makes the book stand out among similar books of this genre.

It is very difficult to keep track of all characters since there are a lot of them, a LOT I say. The writing style of the author is on par with that of international authors. Its crisp, subtle and brilliant. She has a good command over the language and an extensive vocabulary.

The narration is from first and third person perspective which is confusing a times to relate the consecutive events. A clearer description of the place and time could have made it better.

Writing was very intriguing and intense but applauds to the author, the surprise element was kept up till the end. The nail biting sequences of pre climax and climax was outstanding.

Overall, Hungry Gods was a bold representation of the present sadistic world we live in and can very well be made into a movie.

But I would like to leave a disclaimer that the book is not for light hearted ones.

MY RATINGS:

Cover: 4.5/5

Title: 4/5

plot: 5/5

Writing and Presentation: 5/5

Overall: 4.5/5

BOOK DETAILS:

Book Name: Hungry Gods
Author: Richa Lakhera
Genre: Fiction/ thriller

Paperback: 204 pages
Publisher: Rupa Publications India (20 July 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9353040795
ISBN-13: 978-9353040796

The book is available on amazon https://amzn.to/2x1jHy5

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hungry Gods is Richa Lakhera’s third novel, she has previously written Item Girl, a crime novel and Garbage Beat, a satire on the Indian entertainment industry. A libertarian addicted to absurdism, she works as Deputy Editor at NDTV. She has a Master’s in Organic Chemistry and Bio-technology and is the recipient of the Indian Council for UN Relations (ICUNR) Award for Excellence in Journalism. Richa divides her time between New Delhi and Mumbai and is currently working on her next crime fiction novel.

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September 7, 2018

Review of Zidd by Hetansh Desai

BLURB:

Vihaan looked at the skies, took a deep breath and shouted, ‘I want to be on the hoarding outside Raina’s flat!’ Parth did not react right away. After a few minutes, he asked, ‘Sorry? What is that?’ ‘She said she doesn’t want to see my face. So, now I want to ensure she sees my face every day the first thing in the morning.’ Parth took a step towards Vihaan. He shrugged his shoulders, confusedly. ‘I don’t understand.’ ‘There’s a hoarding outside her flat.’ ‘And you want to be on it?’ ‘Yes!’ Turns out, the hoarding outside Raina’s flat was the most expensive in the city! Witness the roller coaster journey of Vihaan, a college dropout and Parth, an illiterate tea vendor, who have an accumulative savings of 3500, set out to earn 20 Lakh in 18 months to buy the coveted hoarding space.

MY REVIEW:

The story does not fall into any specific genre, but has elements of all romance, fiction.

The plot is about two boys from contrast background who have different perspectives.

Vihaan is a rich kid who is kind of arrogant, impatient and is determined not to continue business studies and take over his father’s kite business. HE wants to pursue at SLS .

On the other hand, we have Parth, whose father is a tea seller. Parth wants to set up his own business but does not know how.

The story starts with childhood scenes from Vihaan’s life. A train journey where Vihaan’s father is worried about his business. One idea from Vihaan and he is all successful.

Here at Parth’s end, his father wants him to be a good salesman so that he can sell more cups of tea.

After his father’s death he starts working at an IT company and is very successful selling software.

Their paths cross and they both end up in the same hostel.

Vihaan falls in love with Raina, things speed up here and finally the girl rejects him and conveys she does not wish to see face. This ignites Vihaan’s ego.

So Vihaan and Parth decide to become successful. Vihaan wants to put up his hoarding near Raina’s apartment so she wakes up to it every morning, ironically see his face every day. Parth helps him. Do the love birds reunite, does Vihaan get a hoarding, Is Parth successful in setting up his own Business is what we will have to wait and watch.

The book has a perfect blend of all feelings- love, ambition, most importantly bromance. We also see a couple of business concepts being clearly explained. The book is a pleasant read with lucid writing. The characterization could have been improved especially that of Raina, who seems to be missing for a really long duration and just comes up finally at the end.

The book is a light enjoyable read and I would recommend it as a one-time read. The book uses some unsuitable talks which may not be suitable for a bit younger audience.

BOOK DETAILS:

Publisher:HALF BAKED BEANS (15 August 2018)
ASIN:B07GJLW5LH
No of page: 165

MY RATINGS:

Book Title: 3.5/5

Book Cover: 4/5

Plot: 4/5

Characters: 3.5/5

Narration: 3.5/5

Language & Grammar: 3.5/5

Final Rating: 4/5

The book is available on Amazon https://amzn.to/2MSOlo8

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hetansh Desai is the Founder and CEO of Vital20Communication, a marketing consultancy based out of Mumbai. He has pursued his graduation in Liberal Studies and post-graduation in Entrepreneurial Leadership from Babson college, USA. You can find him in Ahmadabad- as his family lives there- or in Mumbai, or on a cheap, midnight SpiceJet flight.

In his free time, he loves playing and watching cricket, reading the Bhagavad Gita over and over again and listening to music. His hobbies include writing and public speaking.

September 6, 2018September 13, 2018

Letter to my dear husband #myfriendalexa

Today is a very special day in our life. It’s your 30th birthday, my better half. Though we’ve only been married three years, you know it gives me a feeling like we’ve shared a lifetime of experiences.

We have been blessed to have an awesome life, to travel for our love of adventure, to stand with each other through thick and thin, to support each other through job losses and new ventures, to constant encouragement and uplifting of each other. Having you as my partner-in-crime is something I thank God for every day.

I spent so many days thinking about what I should be doing for you to make this birthday amazing and to figure out what to get the man who gives me everything. Nothing was as earnest as me wishing you a happy day, not just today, but every day. It’s simple, your contentment and satisfaction is mine.

Gifts are just one way to show love. But frankly saying, it can never compare to the gift you’ve already given me: a life with you and a life from you(Cheeni). The memories we made together after we met and just the opportunity to walk side by side through all our adventures. I couldn’t have chosen a better person and I am so thankful that God chose you to be mine. You’re the best gift I’ve ever been given

It feels kind of amazing to know, how a once stranger person can now mean the whole world to you? The best part is when you become so close to him, that you begin to say the same things, steal lines from each other, and have an analogous sense of humor or a hidden joke just by exchange of glances because you have such a strong connection with them. That’s what I got lucky and found in you.

You made me learn a lot of things, being independent is just one of them. You came around and changed everything. You enforced me to grow up as an individual and learn to look at all the angles. I would say that our relationship is far from perfect. We’re still learning and growing as individuals while getting over past mistakes. We’re learning to trust each other, while continuing to build our relationship.

Words can never describe how lucky I am to have you in my life and especially to be by my side, you are my font of my happiness and we have made so many incredible memories.

I keep looking at our photos, because even behind those okayish photos of me, we have some utterly beautiful memories. I have never met a kinder, more generous, intelligent, maddening, loving and honest person in my life.

You are kid at heart especially with the sense of humor and mockery and that is something that makes me fall in love with you all over again.

Honestly saying I wouldn’t be here without you, you are my absolute rock. You always inspire me to be a better person, to never stop achieving, to keep going, to forgive and to enjoy the present.

Today I am thankful for your parents and to those who brought you up and for those who came before that I never even knew.

Thank you for putting up with me when I’m cranky and tired. Thank you for knowing when I need to take a break. Thank you for always being game for something new, no matter how silly it seems Thank you for motivating me when I want to desperately give up. Thank you for encouraging me to be me.

Today I am thankful to be your wife. I’m thankful that you chose me, and that you continue to choose me daily, despite my imperfections and annoying habits.

Thank you for the most amazing 3 years. I love you more than words can ever say and even when I get super cranky with you, but you are the other half of me, and you complete my life.

We have so many fun adventures to look back on already and I know we have so many amazing adventures ahead of us. Happy 30th birthday my love, I am so gratified to be your wife! I am blessed by you every single day. May this year be full of God’s healing and favor in your life. I love you!

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