readerscosmos – That Madras Mom

BLURB:

An atheistic millionaire is forced to find and help his long lost friend achieve self-realization in a mystical City of Nine Gates known only to the Gods and the wisest sages of the Advait and the Sankhya. Assisted by other friends in the City, he leads the City on an inward enlightening journey, only to realize at the end who his friend is, what actually the City of Nine Gates is and who is that beyond all regions knowing which one never comes back … “When the Gods descend to devastate, When Kalyuga meets Apocalypse, Out of a Billion, Only one strives, Of those who strive, Only one achieves, What those sages realized, and you still haven’t, knowing which, one never comes back. Rise O’ Cities! It’s time to liberate, It’s time, to realize…”

MY REVIEW:
The city of nine gates takes you on a spiritual journey. The book is filled with verses in Sanskrit then and there which at times makes you forget that you are reading a novel.
The story is about protagonist Gyan who is a multi-millionaire but also an atheist. But his real interest is archeology. One fine day Gyan and his friend discover a structure carved from a single stone resembling that of a fort. The fort underneath a hidden city. Not just that he realizes that there is something more than just the fort and the city. And what does he discover? A temple.
The city is cursed and who will help the city come of out of it, none other than Gyan. He is helped by the magic fabric which helps him note the various information he gathers.
Gyan notices inimitable features Leading him to way into a temple from the pillars of fort. But the combination of five elements of nature is the only way to have the pillar open and lead way to the temple. The temple is protected by 12 priests in deep penance which is disturbed due to alien presence. Thus realizing his importance to unlock the secret and uplift the curse and release the souls, Gyan sets into action.
The book is enriched with truths of self-realization and the almighty, anon to mankind.
The book takes you on a spiritual journey no don’t get me wrong this is interesting to even young readers.
Gyan’s journey set amidst spiritual elements, archeology, mythology makes this a wonderful read. The background research done for the novel is very evident when you complete it.
The glossary at the back is indeed of great help to make you understand the terms in Sanskrit used by the author. For someone who is well versed in Sanskrit or already very good with spiritual or religious terms the reading of this book is a cakewalk.
I loved reading the book, since it was a new genre for me to review. The experience was just wonderful just taking your own time to get all the details absorbed, jumping to the glossary and the story back and forth to understand the terms. This made me wonder the effort that the author would have put in to research the plot and the vedic verses to support the plot.
It was a challenging mission that Gyan set out on with Parth to lift the curse on supernatural city. During the course of the quest he comes to know how the human mind comes into captivity, how the imbalance of feelings, mind, actions can create disruption to human soul.
Gyan’s charcter was thought out perfectly and in no place you see exaggeration, or him jumping to conclusions of what he finds out.
On the whole the book is a wonderful read, when you have all the time to sit in peace and read.

BOOK DETAILS:
Paperback:300 pages
Publisher:Notion Press; 1 edition (11 July 2014)
Language:English
ISBN-10:9384049646
ISBN-13:978-9384049645

MY RATINGS:
Cover: 4/5
Title: 4/5
plot: 4/5
Writing and Presentation: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

This book review is a part of The Readers Cosmos Book Review Program and Blog Tours. For details check: http://www.thereaderscosmos.com/

BLURB:
A delightful novel about growing up in Shillong in the 1980s by the bestselling author of Bali and the Ocean of Milk and The Case of the Secretive SisterWhen fourteen-year-old Debojit Dutta meets the slightly older Clint Eastwood Lyngdoh in his maths tuition classes, he is wary of his cigarette-smoking, whisky-swilling ways. Besides, Debu has only recently escaped a bunch of local ruffians who wanted him to ‘go back home to Bangladesh’.But Debu is unable to resist being friends with Clint. For, in return for doing his maths homework, Clint introduces him to a completely new life: the heady charms of Kalsang, the Chinese restaurant forbidden by Debu’s mother; the revolutionary sounds of Pink Floyd; and most importantly, the coolest, prettiest girl in town—Audrey Pariat. Audrey loves maths and detective stories, just like Debu, and does not make him feel awkward or exotic. Together, the three of them look set to embark on many adventures. But when tensions between the Khasi and Bengali communities boil over, Shillong becomes a battlefield—old neighbours become outsiders and the limits of friendship are challenged.With crackling energy, Nilanjan P. Choudhury immerses us in the tumultuous lives of Debu, his friends and his family, and their attempts to find love and belonging. Written with uncommon warmth, humour and a delightful evocation of place, Shillong Times is an exhilarating coming-of-age story—showing us how friendship can eclipse the hardened enmities of adulthood.

MY REVIEW:
Shillong times is a book that brings you nostalgic moments of life in 80s. The story is set in Shillong, yes that’s where it gets the name. Debojit is a Bengali teenager who along with his parents lives in Shillong.
The story starts with Debojit returning home from school on a lonely path where he encounters few guys from local tribe, khasis. This tribe is against any foreign community living in their area and there are few harsh exchanges between them and Debu. He manages to escape from them. He narrates the entire episode to his parents which is when his father lectures him about the ancestors and why they settled in Shillong.
Debu’s mother started advising him to study well and look for a great career outside Shillong and get away from there. She wants him to pursue IAS and wants him to take up necessary competitive exams inorder to achieve the same. She decides to make him join tutions taken by Professor Bose who is deemed to be extremely strict.
Debu gets to know Clint in one of Bose’s tution sessions. He takes Debu to the forbidden Chinese restaurant Kalsang , introduces him to Pink Floyd music and most important of all makes him meet Audrey Pariat. Clint says shes exactly like him – likes detective stories and maths. Debu takes an instant liking on her during their first meet.
Debu’s mom gets to know about his acquaintance with Clint and warns him of dangers since he’s a Khasi himself. She utters stories from past which sends shivers inside Debu. But inspite of all that he still wishes to continue being friends with Clint. Clint also saves Debu from punishments at school from a teacher. The teacher later reveals to Debu that Clint is not good company and its better he stays away from him. Though now the number of people who are against Clint is two, Debu still is not convinced to sacrifice his friendship.
As the story progresses the tension between Bengalis and Khasis boils over, which makes Shillong a battlefield.
The language is simple and lucid. The author has brought out the beauty of Shillong also known as Scotland of the east so well in narration.
The characterization is perfect. Debu’s mom is of the typical Indian parent who wants the child to concentrate on studies and take up competitive exams. She is very strict and at the same time concerned about him, very much indeed. The pace is just the right amount for the elements for friendship, love and tension.

BOOK DETAILS:
Paperback:248 pages
Publisher:Speaking Tiger Publishing Private Limited (10 September 2018)
Language:English
ISBN-10:938807047X
ISBN-13:978-9388070478

MY RATINGS:
Cover: 4/5
Title: 4/5
plot: 3.8/5
Writing and Presentation: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Nilanjan P. Choudhury’s debut novel, a mythological thriller titled Bali and the Ocean of Milk, was a (very) brief bestseller. His subsequent writings include The Case of the Secretive Sister, a detective caper set in Bangalore, and The Square Root of a Sonnet, a pioneering play on the history and science of black holes; both of which received wide critical acclaim. He confesses to having studied at IIM Ahmedabad and IIT Kanpur, and hopes that this will not be held against him. He grew up in Shillong and now lives in Bangalore with his family. He can be reached at http://www.nilanjan.net.
This book review is a part of The Readers Cosmos Book Review Program and Blog Tours. For details check:

http://www.thereaderscosmos.com