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Tips and tricks to increase reading on kids #thebookblogtrain

“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” — Emilie Buchwald.

I believe that the reading trait can be imbibed when you start reading to them when they are in womb. The baby has the ability to listen and this makes it easier when they are out.

Learning through seeing is a great way to grasp. Seeing parents read could intrigue the child to pick up book. But that does not stop you from sitting down with them and reading a book. I have a detailed blog post on what to read to your kids. You can check that out here.

Check here : books to read to your kid.

Once you start reading out to them often, they would begin to gain interest. First they might like to feel the hold of a page, then turning them over, look at pictures, feel them if they have textures and then start reading.

What does it take in the beginning to read? THE BASICS. By basics I mean phonics.

What is Phonics?

It is the study of sound or method on how you read. It initially is taught by grouping alphabets of similar sounds under groups. There are a lot of tools or aids available online to help teach your kids. You have books, flashcards, and worksheets available in the market to make it easier for you to teach at home. Age 4 is apt for you to start teaching them, since that is when most kids begin to read. But if you believe that your child has an above average vocabulary for that age you are good to start at 3. You can even enroll yourselves for a phonics course before teaching your kid.

Make reading time a must on the schedule

Reading daily can increase reading comprehension, vocabulary expansion, identifying similar words or sounds and familiar words. If your child is still not started reading I would urge you to have story telling in place of them reading. Listening regularly could help in gaining familiarity of words and help them use it in appropriate situations. Once they start reading, they could read out to you. Trust me this is such a joy of having your kid read out to you.

Reading out regularly

Do you believe that if you surround yourself with specific things you have the curiosity or the urge to go see and check out what it is? That is exactly what needs to be done. Surround the kids with books and aids that will intrigue them to

go pick up. Keep a wide variety so that they do not get bored.

Lead them by example

When they see you reading before bedtime regularly they are sure to inculcate the habit as well. Soon after they will also pick up a book and read alongside with you. Have you seen children with mobile during bed time that is probably because they are imitating behavior.

Find the right choice of what they would like

If your child can decide, then let them pick their own book. Make suggestions here and there but do not thrust books.

Read outside apart from books

Let them read the signs on road or read out a recipe of their favorite dish that they want you to make.

Support the child, each child is different

Not all children take instant liking to reading. Some are quick, some are mediocre and some are slow. Take the time to stop, step back and see why where the child is having difficulty. Try to correct that difficulty.

Visit the local library

Take a visit to the local library. Not many people visit the libraries these days, since everything is available online. Spend time at the library with both you and your kid reading books. Who knows you might even uncover certain unknown treasures not present in the online world.

Use ruler or finger

Use a ruler or a finger to follow along. That makes reading easier, and also easy to grasp for the little one. Tell them how each word combines and forms a sentence and how does that make sense.

Review and recap

Ask your child what they finished reading and which part did they like the most. Let the child explain in their own way. You can help in correcting when they are done explaining. Note down difficult words which you can teach them later.

Take part in reading challenges

Once they grow up, you can start signing them up for reading challenges. Nowadays we have more reading challenges which do help in spreading awareness about the importance of reading and also let them explore the world of books and joy of reading.

I hope the above helps in making your children read.

This article is written as a part of #Thebookblogtrain conducted by Vidhya Thakkar and Siddhi Palande powered by Penguin India and Redwolf should not be repurposed, republished or used otherwise. The content herein is owned by the blogger. Hosts are not responsible for any infringement caused.”

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Review of Jay jay and his island adventures

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Jay-Jay is no ordinary bus.
His journey is full of play.
He is a Playbus, he brings fun and adventure to the children wherever they are.
A safe place to play where children can use their imagintion and explore.
Once a real bus his story has been told in many schools.
“We wish he was still here,” the children say. “We would love to go inside!”
Well you can and he is, even if only in fictional form, his story goes on.
The real Playbus proved so popular that the idea was copied by many other play projects.
Always bright and colourful, they stood out from the rest and knowing they were different, the children and other users would come along to look inside and explore to find out what was on offer.
The real Jay-Jay ras much loved and fondly remembered.
His fictional story continues.

MY REVIEW

I loved reading the first book and was looking forward to read this.

This book is about Jay jay’s adventure to an island. This time he goes to meet kids on an island. The joy of meeting children in a new place and making them happy gave him a very good feeling.

But to get to the island he has to Go by a ferry boat. And the sight of it was not comfortable for him. He started feeling sick. But he had to overcome all this to get to the kids. The thrill and joy the kids get when they see Jay Jay is what mattered most to him.

He initially had a bump trying to get on the ferry and upon arrival at the island the driver inspected it and found to be a minimal repair. The children started flocking the bus and were very excited to see a double decker .

They had loads of toys and books to play with. They enjoyed pretending to be pirates and took memorable pictures. Jay jay stayed on the island for a week and returned back wondering what his next adventure would be.

The cover is super colourful and the illustrations are very good and could make any child happy. The narration is simple and requires no help that children could read on their own.

BOOK DETAILS

Format: Kindle

Pages : 44

MY RATINGS

Cover 4.5/5

Plot 4/5

Writing and presentation 4/5

Title 4/5

Overall 4.5/5

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sue Wickstead is a teacher and an author and has currently written six children’s picture books with a bus theme. In addition, she has also written a photographic history book about the real bus behind her story writing. Her bus stories are about a playbus. Have you ever been on a Playbus? When Sue’s two children were young, they attended a playgroup on a bus, but not an ordinary bus taking you on a journey, exciting though this is, but a Playbus stuffed full of toys to capture their imagination! For over 20 years, alongside her teaching career, she worked with the charity, the Bewbush Playbus Association. As part of the committee she painted the bus, worked in the groups, helped raise the profile of the project and its work and was part of the team involved in raising funds to replace the old bus with a newer vehicle. This led her to write a photographic history book about it. `It really was a fun journey to be involved in’, said Sue. The bus really got into her blood and became a work of the heart. Having written the history book Sue soon found that many children had never been on a bus before, let alone a `Playbus’ and they wanted to know more. So, she decided to write a fictional tale, 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 project 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 continues. This story has now been followed by five more picture books. `A Spooky Tale’ and `The Christmas Play Rehearsal’ do indeed have a bus connection as well as links to her teaching journey. Sue has undertaken events and author bookings and loves to share her stories, she is also proud to be `a patron of reading’. The books have all received 5-star awards from ‘Readers Favourite’. .

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Review of Circus folk and village freaks

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Meet the beautiful people of the Circus, and the freaks who live in the Village next to them. Mangled, jangled, misunderstood, all find place in the rich tapestry of this book.

Siamese twins separate to lose half a heart each, and find snake-man and tiger-taming lovers. A man bitten by a crocodile becomes a God, and a Devadasi woos the entire countryside with her culinary artistry.

Fates intertwined lead sometimes to tragedy, sometimes happy summits of fame. A clown finds his place in Hollywood and mute animals break unspeakable chains. A twisted man falls in love with a mirror and a white man is unmade by the Indian sun.

In this book are tales for every season and every reason. Tales of human depravity that take innocent lives, and of a murderers’ insanity that follows, a fitting revenge by nature, red in tooth and claw.

These stories are told in the form of narrative poems in rhyming couplets.

Look inside and you will find, you have been to this Village. Surely, you have been to this Circus too.

MY REVIEW

A book telling you stories in the form of poetry in the current trend is indeed refreshing. Not many people have a liking for poetry reading, since it is not easy to understand the inner meaning of what is being put out in words. But this book is different with about 18 tales in the form of poetry.

The book is about the inmates of the circus and villagers from around. The villagers at times become the inmates of the circus.

Each one of the tale has a moral to tell you. They leave a mark in you to make you think of it. The stories presented makes you want to do a comparison of the circus we live in and contemplate.

The cover of the book is yet another gem. It looks so colorful and vibrant that makes you want to pick the book up immediately and read.

The narration in poetic form is very good. Some are direct, some have inner meanings. This is my first time one reading a book of this kind and I enjoyed reading it. Kudos to the author for coming up with such a thought.

BOOK DETAILS

Published by : Viswakarma publications

Format : hardcover

Length : 156

MY RATINGS

Plot : 4/5

Title :4/5

Cover : 5/5

Writing and presentation :4/5

Overall :4.5/5

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Review of Ganesha

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On the trail of Ganesha, the Afro-Asian calf, born by a quirk of fate and in the most improbable of circumstances in the wilds of East Africa in 1943. Then begins his journey to the Southern wilds of India and his fight for survival in those new wilds.
Born on the same day as Ganesha in a rural hamlet of Southern India is Maari, who goes on to become one of the most dreaded poachers India has ever known.
And know how their fates inevitably cross over the decades during which there are profound changes in both the political and ecological landscape of India.

MY REVIEW

I’d never imagined that the protagonist of my current read would be an elephant. What a great thought and a different one. That really made heads turn when the book came out.

Ganesha is a hybrid ( afro Asian) elephant who loses his mahout in a storm and is stuck in an island. Poacher Maari portrays the way into darkness and shows the wicked world of wildlife mafia. The evil face of poaching is portrayed well when Maari fights off his own battle. Ganesha is friends with one eye who keeps Ganesha company till the end.

The book brings out the depiction of life and death of the elephant Ganesha. The book beautifully brings out the relationship between animals and humans and how far it does affect the former when they lose a close one. The sensitive feeling of the animals has been brought out in a commendable way.

The narration is just perfect setting the stage for the whole plot to unfold. The plot is crisp and does not go to unwanted detailing. The psyche of the animals is well explained and goes to prove that they are more socially behaved than the humans.

It was a varied out of box thought of making the animal a protagonist. I enjoyed reading the book. The cover is simple and does give you an outright picture of what you would be reading about.

BOOK DETAILS

  • Publication date: 21 Apr 2019
  • Format : Kindle edition
  • Length: 191 pages
  • Publisher: Half Baked Beans
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B07QWLPPF2

MY RATINGS

Plot : 4/5

Writing and presentation : 4/5

Cover : 3.5/5

Title : 4/5

Overall :4/5

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Book blitz – Her Prince charming

HER PRINCE CHARMING

(Prequel to The Malhotra Bride)

by

Sundari Venkatraman



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It’s instantaneous attraction when Tanuja Bhatia from Delhi meets Raj Malhotra from Bombay at the Bombay Central Station.


The mutual attraction soon blossoms into love over the next couple of meetings. 


Tanuja and her simple father fail to see the crisis brewing in their own home. Her not-so-nice stepmother Gurinder is totally against the idea of Tanuja meeting her Prince Charming which would make her step-sister Harpreet seriously envious. By the way, Harpreet’s main aim in life is to simply make her half-sister miserable. 


While Raj’s parents and Tanuja’s father try to arrange a marriage between the two with a help of a mutual friend, the evil stepmother comes up with a plan of her own—to marry her stepdaughter off to Sonu, a good-for-nothing idiot. 


Can Her Prince Charming lift Tanuja out of this life of drudgery and boredom and give her the happiness she deserves?


*A prequel to THE MALHOTRA BRIDE, this book is also available in paperback in India.


Read an Excerpt:

Tanuja stood at the entrance to
the bogie, guarding the luggage as the train slowed down to enter Bombay
Central Station, excitement in her heart as her eyes devoured the sights. It
had been a long time since the Bhatia family had gone on a holiday, all
together. It had always been her stepmother and her half-sisters who went on
bi-annual trips, leaving Tanuja and her father at home. But, of course, both of
them appreciated the peaceful times while the other three were gone. In fact,
Tanuja considered those interludes the best holidays ever.

Just before the train stopped,
she caught sight of a tall man in pristine white trousers and half-shirt, holding
a placard which read, ‘Talveer Bhatia’. Her charcoal black eyes went wide when
they met the dark brown of the man’s bold gaze, a soft blush tainting her
cheeks before she turned away to address her father who was standing behind the
three suitcases. “Papa, the car driver’s here, I think. See that man over
there,” she pointed a slim index finger in the direction of the man as her
father craned his neck to look out, “he’s holding a cardboard placard with your
name on it.”

Talveer nodded his head at his eldest
daughter, a soft smile on his tired face. “Let’s get the luggage out,” he said,
watching Tanuja get off on to the platform. The father-daughter duo shook their
heads at the porters who offered to take their luggage as Talveer handed the
suitcases one-by-one to Tanuja.

“Have you got all the suitcases
out?” asked Gurinder in her usual harsh voice, a frown on her face as she
glared at her step-daughter and husband.

“Yes, aunty,” said Tanuja, taking
the large bag that Gurinder was holding in her hands, before helping her out of
the train.

Harpreet and Jaspreet giggled as
they watched their plump mother struggle to step down onto the platform, not
bothering to help her. They each held a tote bag carrying their make-up
articles and other fancy stuff which they naively believed were absolute
necessities in Bombay.

Talveer lifted his head to see
Raj Malhotra walking in their direction with the placard, waving to him. “I’m
Talveer Bhatia. Are you the driver who has come to pick us up from Malhotra
Cabs?”

“Yes sir. My name is Raj,” said
Raj, shaking Talveer’s hand, forgetting that drivers may be considered too
menial to shake hands with customers who hired cars from their company, his
gaze taking in the family of five even as it lingered for a few seconds longer on
Tanuja’s beautiful face.

Gurinder glared at him. “You are
the driver who will be driving us to Mahabaleshwar?”

“Haanji ma’am.”

“Apni aukat mein raho. What’s with the shaking hands? Can’t you do a
namaste? Kyunji,” as she frowningly glanced at her husband, “can’t you tell
the man that instead of shaking his hand?”

Tanuja felt highly embarrassed by
Gurinder’s harsh words. What was wrong if the man had shaken her father’s hand?
Why did her stepmother have to shout for such a trivial thing?

Before her father could open his
mouth, the driver said, “I’m sorry, ma’am. Please forgive me. It won’t happen
again.” 

Gurinder looked the man up and
down before ordering, “Chalo, take
all the suitcases and let’s go to the waiting room.”

Without asking a question, Raj lifted
two heavy suitcases in both his hands before turning in the direction of the
first-class waiting room. Tanuja bent down to take the third one, giving him a
shy nod, a small smile touching her lips. Her mouth had the appearance of a
rosebud to the man who walked ahead of her.

It took the Bhatia family about
an hour to get ready. Raj waited patiently as he read the day’s newspaper
before Talveer walked out from the men’s waiting room. Tanuja was the first to
get ready and she also walked out to the platform on seeing her father. She
couldn’t help being fascinated by the handsome driver as she studied him from
the corner of her eyes from time to time, not saying anything while she watched
her father chat with him.

“I am also from Delhi, Talveerji,” said Raj, answering the other man
when asked.

Talveer smiled widely. “I did
wonder about the accent,” he said, patting the younger man on his shoulder.

They chatted some more about
their hometown but mainly in Hindi. “If you are educated, how come you are
working as a driver?” There was curiosity in Talveer’s dark gaze as he looked
up at the driver who towered over him by many inches.

Raj was careful enough to speak
English exactly the way his drivers spoke. Shrugging, he said, “I am setting up
my own business.” Okay, it was a slight variation from the truth as his garment
factory was already set up and running smoothly. But he couldn’t very well tell
the client that. “In the meanwhile, this is a good way to make money, without
having to work under someone.” It was with difficulty that he managed to keep
his gaze on Talveer Bhatia and not let it stray to the young woman who, he
presumed, must be the man’s daughter. She was simply too beautiful for words.

Talveer nodded his head
vigorously, thoroughly approving of the other man’s sentiments. “So what
business are you setting up?”

“Manufacturing of garments,
Talveerji.” No, he had no plans to
tell them the magnitude of his business, that he had invested almost ten lakh
rupees and only twenty percent of the total had been raised through a bank
loan. The rest was entirely from his own savings. Raj had slogged from the day
he arrived in Bombay five years ago. He had refused to use his father’s money
and had earned his own money starting from scratch. He had led a comfortable
life but it wasn’t half as luxurious as the one he was used to at his home in
Delhi. He had converted all the leftover money to gold. When he began
purchasing gold in 1971, six months after he moved to Bombay, the price for ten
grams had been less than Rs. 200. Over the last five years, the price had risen
dramatically to Rs. 540. He had also persuaded his father to buy small
bungalows in Mahabaleshwar and Matheran.

So, at the age of twenty-six,
where a lot of young boys are still whiling away their time, Raj had set up his
very own garment unit. And there was also the flat that he had purchased in
Matunga, where he lived now.

Talveer nodded, even as his eyes
kept turning towards the women’s waiting room, wondering about his wife and
daughters. He looked at his eldest born and said, “Tanu, why don’t you go and
find out if everyone is ready?”

“Theek hai, Papa,” said Tanuja in a soft voice before walking
towards the waiting room, her steps dragging. As if the three of them would
care.

“Madam, it would be nice if you
could tell them that we have to travel for eight hours before reaching our
destination.” Raj called out to Tanuja’s retreating back.

She stopped in her tracks,
wondering if she had heard right. Had he called her ‘madam’? She turned around
with a smile, her cheeks dimpling when her gaze caught his dark one, a dark
wing-shaped eyebrow raised in query. “Were you talking to me?”

“Ji! It will take us eight hours to reach Mahabaleshwar,” said Raj,
looking into her black gaze and rapidly found himself drowning in them, unable
to stop the answering smile on his face.

Why was he addressing her as if
she was fifty years old? Tanuja realised that she didn’t like it at all. But
then, she didn’t want to say anything in front of her father. She nodded her
head before turning away from him to continue towards the waiting room door.

After ensuring her father’s gaze
was turned away from him, Raj looked at her retreating figure encased in a salwar kameez which faithfully hugged
her slender body. She could have passed off for an apsara from heaven, he thought. 

Grab your copy @



About the author



Sundari Venkatraman is an indie author who has 42 titles (38 books and 4 collections) to her name, all Top 100 Bestsellers on Amazon India, Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada and Amazon Australia in both romance as well as Asian Drama categories. Her latest hot romances have all been on #1 Bestseller slot in Amazon India for over a month.


Even as a kid, Sundari absolutely loved the ‘lived happily ever after’ syndrome as she grew up reading all the fairy tales she could lay her hands on, Phantom comics, Mandrake comics and the like. It was always about good triumphing over evil and a happy end. 


Soon, into her teens, Sundari switched her attention from fairy tales to Mills & Boon. While she loved reading both of these, she kept visualising what would have happened if there were similar situations happening in India; to a local hero and heroine. Her imagination took flight and she always lived in a rosy cocoon of romance over the years. 


Then came the writing – a true bolt out of the blue! And Sundari Venkatraman has never looked back.

Click here to check out all the titles by the author…

You can stalk her @

      

        

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Review of wake up life is calling

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What if your mind is your greatest enemy?

What if you were living your worst nightmare?

How would you cope?

Ankita has fought a mental disorder, been through hell, and survived two suicide attempts. Now in Mumbai, surrounded by her loving and supportive parents, everything seems idyllic. She is not on medication. She is in a college she loves, studying her dream subject: Creative Writing. At last leading a ‘normal life’, she immerses herself in every bit of it.

Underneath the surface, however, there is trouble brewing. A book she discovers in her college library draws her in, consumes her and sends her into a terrifying darkness that twists and tears her apart. To make matters worse, a past boyfriend resurfaces, throwing her into further turmoil.

Can she escape her thoughts? Will Ankita survive the ordeal a second time around? What does life have in store for her?

Preeti Shenoy’s compelling sequel to the iconic bestseller Life is What You Make It chronicles the resilience of the human mind and the immense power of positive thinking. The gripping narrative demonstrates with gentle wisdom how by changing our thoughts, we can change our life itself.

MY REVIEW

Life is what you make it ends with Ankita diagnosed with bipolar disorder and together with the help of her parents and NIMH , she tries to get back.

The book is a serious read and is not for someone who looks forward to get the feeling of joy thinking about the characters. The books provides great morale of self confidence to those who feel dejected and think of ending their life.

She starts a new life in Mumbai as she takes up a creative writing course. Joining her as buddies are Janki and Parul. It all starts when her friend from school comes back and at the same time she borrows a book that gives a clear picture of suicide.

What happens later ? Does she complete the course, what happens to her after her friend comes back, what triggers inside her after reading the book is the rest of the story.

The characters have been portrayed very well. Especially that of Mrs. Hayden, whose flashback and her current life gives you more strength. The visual exercises that she teaches Ankita are more of a learning for us that we can impart into our lives.

The narration is good and simple to understand. I would definitely say this is a comeback for Preeti.

The cover is vibrant and gives you a feeling of freshness or something like a great start.

Ankita, the protagonist is firm and smart though she was being emotional. Her strength of having the thought to come out of her situation without medication is appreciable.

The concept of Ankita making life notes is another positive aspect of the book. The plot being simple has been put forth in such a way that it conveys a powerful message.

BOOK DETAILS

Publisher : Srishti publishers and distributors

ISBN 10 :9387022609

ISBN 13: 978-9387022607

MY RATINGS

Title:4/5

Cover :4/5

Writing and presentation:4/5

Plot:4/5

Overall :4/5

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Preeti Shenoy is the bestselling author of Life is What You Make It and eleven other titles. Her books have been translated into several Indian and foreign languages. She is among the highest-selling authors in India. She is also a speaker, columnist, and artist. Preeti has been featured on BBC, Conde Nast, Verve, India Today and all other major media.

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REVIEW OF THE SLEEPLESS BEAUTY

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THE WEST GAVE THE WORLD ‘THE SLEEPING BEAUTY’.
NOW, FROM THE EAST, COMES ANOTHER CHARMING AND EXCITING FAIRY TALE – ‘THE SLEEPLESS BEAUTY’!!
In a small kingdom somewhere in the Himalayas, the beautiful young Princess Ramya cannot sleep. It all started soon after her mother, the queen, passed away, when the princess was only twelve. Her father, the king, tries everything to make his little princess sleep, but nothing works. The princess develops such an inability to sleep that she becomes known in her kingdom and far beyond as the Sleepless Beauty.
The king wishes Princess Ramya to marry and take over the reins of government, but the princess is determined not to marry till such time as her sleep is restored. Eventually, the king announces a competition whereby whichever prince succeeds in getting Princess Ramya to sleep will win her hand. Meanwhile deadly foes of the kingdom wait and watch in the wings, planning to launch a surprise attack. This exciting, romantic tale, with comic interludes, will appeal to readers of all ages.

MY REVIEW

The book is a very short read and I completed it during a cab journey that took an hour. It sure did keep me engaging.

From the cover, it appears like a children’s folktale. But this can definitely give joy to adult readers as well.

The book talks about family, emotion and love.

Situated in the Himalayas, the kingdom of Bhangra is ruled by King Bhoj and queen Mohini. They give birth to a lovely daughter, Ramya. Mohini passes away when Ramya is 12.

Bent in sadness, and lack of concentration Ramya fails to sleep and had become a trait explaining her. The princess who never sleeps. King is very worried about the situation. His daughter has everything except sleep. So he announces a competition wherein he invites Princes to make her sleep.

The ending is definitely not predictable. I was thinking of a situation and it did not end that way.

The cover supports the plot and the true feel of the fairytale genre.

The simple writing style and cute nuances taken care makes you go aww. The importance of love is portrayed very well.

The characterisation is done very well, especially that of Princess Ramya and Prince X ( I am not revealing the name). To know how the princess slept please go purchase yourself a copy of the book.

BOOK DETAILS

Format : Kindle edition

Pages : 90

ASIN : B07PFVYLT6

MY RATINGS

Plot 4/5

Writing and presentation 4/5

Title 4/5

Cover 4/5

Overall 4.5/5

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Review of Urban insanity

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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.

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Review of Divyastra

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“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

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Book blitz – Kingdom of Jior

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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

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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.

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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.

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Amazon

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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.

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

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About the Author

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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

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