Aparna Sinha - Author of Ashwamedha : Interview Session

Introduce yourself to the readers.

Born and raised in city of Allahabad, by academician father (his book has won the national award) and writer mother; I was always a dreamer and always a story teller. After graduating, I did my MBA and became a marketing professional. The book happened when I was hit by chronic autoimmune disorder, which forced me to quit my job; while the world/society felt sorry for me for losing my perfect skin to a disease, which may or may not cure, I used the time to write the novel. I recuperated as the book finished. Even though my body still carries marks of that illness, but it doesn’t remind me of pain and sleepless nights; it has made me strong and I thank god for that!

Now, I am a mother of an 18 month old boy and I love every bit of motherhood.

Tell us something about your book - Ashvamedha - The Game of Power.

Ashvamedha is a political thriller about years of Ashwin Jamwal’s life, in which he gradually became the most powerful man on earth, were orchestrated by master manipulator, Hades. Hades made him powerful only to sacrifice him, in the end, and claim the ultimate authority.

The book is #6 among top 50 favourite book by female author 2017; the book is called best political thriller of recent times by Hindu.

What made you write a political thriller? How was your experience writing Ashvamedha?

Head of a political party was mocked for making a comment on ubiquity of politics, his choice of words was little off track, but he made a valid point. Politics is everywhere. Yet, political thriller, is still a lesser read genre. People associate politics with boring stories of old men quietly discussing a government overturn, in reality it about is continuous strategizing, involving dexterity of highly shrewd individuals capable of manipulating and deciding fate of over 7 billion people. It is exciting to read political thrillers and even more enthralling to write one.

What was the toughest part when writing Ashvamedha?

Research and validation after writing.

Are you working on your next book? Let us know some details about it.

It is a thriller will touch base on education system of the country through that book.

It was good talking to you. I wish you all the best.

Thank you.

You can buy Ashvamedha on Amazon.

Psycon by Varun T - Book Review

An amazing book. A must read!

Book Name: Psycon

Author: Varun T

Publisher: Notion Press

Blurb:

A new regime is manning the reins of governance in India, having arrived on the scene with an anti-corruption agenda. With the IT Department chasing down tax evaders to curb the menace of black money, party funds begin to dry up, a year before Uttar Pradesh goes to polls. 

Enter Prateek Subramaniam and Yashwardhan Sharma, through their brainchild, PSYCON. 

Set in the heart of UP, the duo works to assist the ruling party’s agenda of conquering the Hindi heartland. Their mission: amassing the funds the task would need. The two have their job cut out for them. 

Between harassing businessmen to shell out money and making money in the process, they make quite a bit in the initial windfall. And yet, a can of worms is opened when the CBI enters the picture. 

Do the two con their way out of the CBI’s grasp? Will truth prevail in the land of Satyamev Jayate? 

Or will they find reality too bizarre to handle? 

Review:

There are novels out there which make you emotional. There are novels out there that make you laugh. There are novels out there which make you cringe. There are novels out there which make you angry. But there are very few novels that make you feel all emotions at once. Psycon is one such novel that will make you feel all the emotions at once. You will feel sad for Prateek and at the same time feel angry. You will be surprised to see how low a businessman can steep for the success of his business. The escapades of corruption mentioned in this story will leave you shocked. Psycon will leave a deep impact on you. 

The blurb of the story is simple one which will make you think that the story too might be a usual story of corruption. You can very well compare Psycon to an iceberg. It's much bigger than it appears. The plot is a simple one but the manner in which it is developed is worth all the praises. Every chapter surprises you. I appreciate the efforts the author has put in for all the research. I myself was unaware of many practices that are mentioned in this novel. The first word which comes to your mind when you read corruption and black money is bribe. But there are many faces to this black money conundrum which are revealed as chapters in this book. 

The story is narrated excellently. There is no room for any confusion inspite of having so many characters. You get to know about each character as you read the story. It is like you discover a thing or two about the characters and you feel you know him better. The characters feel real. The language is lucid. I loved the presentation of this story. The twists and turns of this book will keep you on the edge. You will be hooked onto this book. 

I would love to see Psycon as a movie on big screen. The book has every element that is required to make an excellent movie. 

I rate: 

Cover: 3/5 

Characters: 4/5 

Story: 5/5 

I rate Psycon with 5/5 stars.

Book your copies of this amazing novel on Amazon.

No One Can Replace You by Kumar Nitin Antil - Book Review

The same old wine presented in a new bottle.

Book Name- No One Can Replace You 

Author- Kumar Nitin Antil 

Publisher- Invincible Publishers 

Blurb- 

Aryan, a shy but talented civil student who has a powerful gift of simplicity and an ability to express himself, is best friends with Rakshit, who is a pogonophil, the go-to person, the one friend who is always to the rescue, just like a fire-fighter. 

Annika, the academic topper, pursuing Engineering, when her heart was really set somewhere else. In spite oftheir differences, Aryan and Annika catch each other's eyes and hearts. When all the others were busy working toward their career, these two were busy dancing to the tune of love. 

However, life never makes it easy for anyone. In an unpredictable turn, a stranger is thrown in the mix. Will the pair be able to withstand the storm that looms over their head, when one of them caught in the mess? Will they be able to stick together? And who was that stranger, intent on destroying their castle of love? 

No one Can Replace You is a story that will inculcate your devotion in love and friendship. 

Story in a nutshell- 

A simple average boy falls in love at the first sight with a simple and intelligent girl. He tries to strike friendship with the girl with the help of his friends. Once strangers now become best friends. Texting, telephoning and meeting each other becomes a routine. Over time, the boy is deeply in love with the girl. He confesses his feelings and waits for the reply from the girl. She exits his life without stating the reason. The boy gets into depression. Does he come out of it? This is what the story is all about. 

Review-

I've had enough of college romances. The same old story presented everytime. I started this story with a hope that it would offer something new but was utterly disappointed. 

The story gives out nothing new and I had an headache when I completed reading it. All I was eagerly waiting for was for the end. I was turning pages not because I was excited to know what happened next but to reach the last page as soon as possible. 

The language and narration is very simple. I came across many new words which appeared stuffed into the story. The first turn off about this book was the plot while the second was this insertion of words. They didn't seem to gel well with the narration. Justics hasn't been done to the characters as well. The author mentions about a group of friends and by the time you reach the end, you will find just one guy. The epilogue mentions about them. Where were they during the other chapters? The book is also in need of right editing. There are many grammatical mistakes. 

The only thing I liked about this book was a short write-up about love at the end. 

I rate: 

Cover: 2/5 

Characters: 1/5 

Story: 1/5 

I rate 'No One Can Replace You' with 1/5 stars.

The book is available on Amazon.

For the sake of my ego by Ajay Setia and Harleen Walia - Book Review

Book Name- For the sake of my ego 

Authors- Ajay Setia and Harleen Walia 

Publishers- Invincible Publishers 

Blurb- 

For the sake of my ego is the journey of passionate Aryan who is in love with Music from eternity. Life changes for Aryan the moment he enters college where he gets the chance of justifying his passion for playing music. The fascinating college life brings to him opportunity to perform in a rock band, however situations make him turn down the offer, something he regrets very soon. But his thirst for playing in a band amends his ways. Unfortunately, his eyes get opened the day he is thrown out of the band 'Vishesh'. The cobwebs of love never fail to bother Aryan and he realizes that life is much beyond his expectations. On his way though engineering, his enemies out number his friends, his story is all about answering the questions of his life: Will destiny ever allow him to perform in front of his college? Will his ego ever let him go back to Vishesh? Will any new path open up for him? Or will he have to make his path on his own? 

Story in a nutshell- 

For the sake of my ego is the story about a young boy named Aryan and his college life. Life is all about making memories. What memories does Aryan make in this college days? Does he find success at confessing his love, Tania? Is he successful at making his band? Or does his passion for music die? 

Review- 

Nowadays, most authors are into writing college romances. The same old stories are presented with some twists and in a new jacket. I wondered if this book too was belonging to the above mentioned category. I started reading the book and realised that it is not just another story of college romance. There's something more to it. 

Aryan, the protagonist begins his story of college life from the fresher's party and walks us through the four years of his engineering days. He talks about his crush Tania, the band - Vishesh, his grades and his passion for music. Apart from Aryan's passion for music, everything in this novel seems like that old wine in the new bottle. The simple narration of this book and lucid language makes this book an easy read. The incidents have been rightly placed. The reader knows about the year of Aryan's engineering unlike some books which talk about first year on first page and last year on tenth. However, I felt that some incidents were exaggerated out of proportion. It read as if the authors had stuffed some incidents to make the story appear lengthy. The story isn't one if the kind but it gives out message of never giving up on something you love. It tells you to follow your passion with dedication and cross all the hurdles you encounter on your way. 

I rate: 

Cover: 2/5 

Characters: 3/5 

Story: 2.5/5 

My overall rating for 'For the sake of my ego' is 3/5 stars.

Buy this book on Amazon.

Karma by Kevin Missal - Book Review

Karma is a blend of horror, love and psychology. 

Book Name- Karma 

Author- Kevin Missal 

Publisher- Kalamos Literary Services 

Price- Rs. 75 

Blurb- 

KARMA IS WORLD's FIRST INSTAREAD Karman Malik a lonely man finds his wife standing outside his house. But there are two problems. One, she Karman Malik a lonely man finds his wife standing outside his house. But there are two problems. One, she had died eight years back. Second, she is not human anymore. (Italics) Can he love her again?had died eight years back. Second, she is not human anymore. (Italics) Can he love her again? 

Review- 

Karma is a blend of horror, love and psychology. 

The cover of this book shows a lonely man and a lady in the background. The shades of black and blue is perfect and goes in hand with the genre horror. The book is small in size having 85 pages. The book is a quick read and you will finish reading it in half and hour. 

Moving on to the story, I didnot find it spine chilling one. I like to read horror which gives the reader goosebumps and Karma isn't that kind. I was reminded of the Indian cinema, 1920- Evil Returns at some instances. I found the surprise element missing in this story. A few incidents from this story made me laugh rather than making me scared. The story starts off well but as you read further, it loses its charm. It turns monotonous and predictable. 

The simple language and lucid narration makes this book an easy read. The story is presented well with good twists and turns. The story is plotted well. 

I rate: 

Cover: 3.5/5 

Characters: 3/5 

Story: 2/5 

Karma gets an overall rating of 2.5/5 stars from me.

You can buy this book on Amazon.

A Team of Extraordinary Bastards by Arka Dutta - Book Review

Book Name: A Team of Extraordinary Bastards

Author: Arka Dutta

Review:

A Team of Extraordinary Bastards is one such book that gives you a pleasant reading experience. You will fall in love with the protagonist, Arya right from the first page of the book. April is a sweet girl. The story is about Arya, his life and football. Author has an amazing knack of storytelling. The story has been narrated in such a way that you think it to be real and happening around you. I was reminded of the movie - M S Dhoni. I believe that this story could very well be converted into a movie. The great plot will keep the readers hooked on to it until the very end. You will be so engrossed in the story that you won't realise when you have completed the book. The story makes you curious. It keeps you engaged. It's narrated in simple language with awesome vocabulary. The third person narration has been done lucidly. The moment I realised this book is of around 300 pages, I wondered whether I made a right decision of accepting the book for review. The blurb had interested me very much. I didn't realise when I finished reading it. The story teaches you to live, to love, to follow your passion and most importantly believing in the best. 

I rate: 

Cover: 3.5/5 

Characters: 4/5 

Story: 4/5 

My overall rating for 'A Team of Extraordinary Bastards' with 4/5 stars.

The Case Files of Martin Brothers by Abhigyan Sarma - Book Review

"It is an amazing story. I would love to see it convert into a short film."

Book Name - The Case Files of Martin Brothers 

Author - Abhigyan Sarma 

Publisher - Invincible Publishers 

Blurb - 

When John, Joe and Jeff agreed to help a husky old man in finding his stolen ancient family treasure, they had merely thought that the treasure hunt would be fun filled. Little did they know, that it would prove to be dangerous as well. From being locked up in a room with leaking gas, to aiming a falling tree at them, the thieves left no stone unturned to get them out of their way. The three Js, as the boys are commonly known, soon realized that the thieves they were dealing with were not just any petty thieves but someone who could go to any extent to get their job done. 

Story in a nutshell - 

The three brothers - John, Joe and Jeff known as The Three Js, are the private detectives. They have solved many cases and also, helped the police in solving some. Jean Bucks comes to them for help in order to find his syolen treasure. Nothing gives boys more happiness than solving cases. The Three Js take up the case of finding the stolen treasure. This book is their escapade of finding the stolen treasure. 

Review - 

The moment I read the first few pages of this book, I was reminded of the cartoon - Scooby Dooby Doo. This book is an awesome read for all those readers out there who love to read tales of investigation. 

The story starts with a brief introduction about the boys and the cases they have solved. As the story goes on further, Jean Bucks and his case is introduced. The Three Js solve the case one step at a time. They fall into dangerous situations but emerge out of them victorious. 

The story has been thoughtfully crafted keeping in mind every minute detail. The incidents have been rightlt placed. Author has ensured that he hasn't let out the mystery anytime during the read. He has perfectly carried it until the end. The author has narrated this story in third person. His language is simple, easy to understand and convincing. He has described the situations beautifully. You will feel like you are with the boys, facing those situations and investigating the case. Such real the narration is!

The three boys, though belonging to the younger age, are matured to take proper steps in order to find the thief. They are disciplined, good mannered and passionate about their work. They are inspiration. 

The author has mentioned that this is the first installment of the book in Martin Brothers Series. I am certainly looking forward to the next one. Also, I would love to see this book in the form of a short film. 

I rate: 

Cover: 3/5 

Characters: 3.5/5 

Story: 4/5 

I rate 'The Case Files of Martin Brothers' with 4/5 stars.

You can buy your copies on Amazon.

My Complicated Destiny by Swarali Wankhade - Book Review

"My Complicated Destiny is an emotional tale of love."

Book Name: My Complicated Destiny 

Author: Swarali Wankhade 

Publisher: Invincible Publishers 

Blurb: 

They say, there is always a connection between friendship and love. Deep Love has a shadow of a strong friendship and a strong friendship often stems out into love.

Zed and Kanishka were no exceptions. Theirs was a bond that was beyond friendship. Two inseparable souls that looked for solace in each other. Being at the peak of their youth, career came first. Both decide to pursue their dreams and return to each other in a span of five years. FIve difficult and eventful years shattering many lives. 

That fateful when Zed left from the airport to make his future and Kanishka's dreams were only dreams.... well, almost. 

Story in a nutshell: 

All love stories, most of the times, begin with friendship. Similar was the case wirh Zed and Kanishka. They meet during their childhood and stay friends until adulthood only to realise that they love each other. It is usually seen that you do not value a person or a thing until the day you feel it's going away from you. You begin to show your care when you know it's slipping off your hand. You start to love it more. Zed moves abroad for higher education leaving Kanishka in India. He realises that he's in love with her and misses her company. Five years roll on. Zed doesn't spend a single day without thinking about Kanishka. When he returns back to India, he learns that Kanishka and her mother have relocated some place else without informing anybody. Where have they gone? Has Kanishka stopped loving Zed? Does Zed succeed in finding the love of his life? 

Review: 

My Complicated Destiny is an emotional tale of love. The story is about Zed and Kanishka who are in love with each other. They decide to pursue their careers and therefore, move on with their lives. While Zed makes the most of his life, life for Kanishka becomes difficult. The story talks about true love and the difficulties it faces. It talks about long distance relationships. I wouldn't say that the story is a unique one. It is one of its kind. It is simple and adorable. 

The characters - Kanishka and Zed seem matured enough for their age. The relationship that they share is sweet. You will surely desire a relationship like theirs. There is so much understanding between the two. The story has been narrated in Zed's as well as Kanishka's point of view. The simple language and simple narration makes this book a very sweet read. There are many 'aww' and 'tsuk' moments in this novel. It will make you happy as well as sad. You are sure to get teary eyed towards the end. 

This book could have been made better by narrating the story more creatively and editing it well. Overall, it was a good one-time read. 

I rate:
Cover: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Story: 3/5

My Complicated Destiny gets 3/5 stars from me.

You can buy your copies on Amazon.

Demons in my mind by Aashish Gupta - Book Review

"The story that will remain imprinted on your minds for months."

Book Name: Demons in my mind

Author: Aashish Gupta 

Publisher: Notion Press 

Price: Rs. 349 

Blurb: 

Are crimes and mental illness related? 

Is your mind under your control? 

Is your life an illusion created by you? 

Dakshesh, an old man in Sirubari village suffering from cancer, wishes to be released from excruciating pain. His journey takes him to the three monks, known for miraculous healing and life transformation. He discovers they are no saints, but hardened criminals. The three monks - Rizwan, Murli, Joseph - narrate stories of unprecedented savagery that would make even the most cold-hearted criminals look down with shame. 

The dark stories of the three monks leave Dakshesh gasping, but there is something about their dishonourable lives that relieves Dakshesh from his pain. 

Review: 

A novel generally presents to you one story at a time. Demons in my mind presents to you four stories. All the four stories are interconnected with each other and are, themselves, great, spine chilling stories. The book is a nail biting thriller which will give you goosebumps at many instances while reading. 

Demons in my mind is a story where the mind is the villian. No matter how softhearted you are, if your mind turns into a devil you will never be able to help yourself. The story is about three guys - Rizwan, Murli and Joseph, who have committed heinous crimes in the past and are leading the life of monks in current times. What made them committ those crimes? Who was the common factor to bring all of them together? Why does Dakshesh, the old man want to visit the three monks?

I had set a deadline to finish reading all books by 10th June and write the reviews. The moment I picked this book up, I grew tensed. How am I going to read this thick book having approximately 300 pages in a day! I started reading the book thinking that I might require 2 days to read it and I ended up reading it in a day's time. The book is so interesting that I couldn't put it down. It appeared as if the story was pulling me to dive into it, not to return without completing it fully. The story is a unique one which will surprise you at the end of every chapter. You will be surprised to read the manner in which the author has narrated the story. It seems realistic. The first person narration has added that personal touch to the story. You will feel like you have known the protagonists since a long time. You will feel the pain they go through and the game their mind plays with them more closely. The simple and engaging language coupled with superb narration makes this book an awesome read. There is something about this book and the characters. Never ever during the read, I felt anger towards the three protagonists except for the last chapter. This story will remain imprinted on my mind for months to come. 

I rate: 

Cover: 2.5/5 

Characters: 4/5 

Story: 4.5/5 

I rate 'Demons in my mind' with 4.5/5 stars.

You can book your copies on Amazon.

Twenty Twenty: A Race Against Time by Anuraag Srivastava - Book Review

Twenty Twenty: A Race Against Time  is good thriller. The climax of this book will leave you surprised and shocked."

Book Name: Twenty Twenty: A Race Against Time 

Author: Anuraag Srivastava 

Publisher: Srishti Publishers and Distributors 

Price: Rs. 195 

Blurb: 

Life is a fast-paced Twenty20 game and you need to keep playing to win. Abhi and Aditi are siblings who want to realise their dreams in the ever upgrading world. In the midst of all the struggle and success, they get entangled in a strange web. If they are not able to resolve the crisis in twenty days, their very existence can come under threat. In short, they have to hit sixes on every bouncer thrown at them. Not just with the world outside, this ordeal is also a fight with one's own character and principles. 

Unwanted situations, unexpected turns, money and sex push them deeper into the web. Manipulations and treachery become the order. The hunter becomes the hunted. A vicious circle of betrayal and debauchery is created. 'Twenty Twenty' is a story of betrayal, deceit and relationships, where a master planner devises games, to get to his own ambitions. 

Story in a nutshell: 

I have many times heard my elders say that love for money, passion to become rich when overgrows turns dangerous. Abhi falls in the trap of making quick money and unfortunately loses the same. The sad thing to know here is that he had borrowed the money from the lenders. During the same time, the lenders pester him to pay their money in twenty days. Arranging a whopping sum of 20 lacs isn't a piece of cake for Abhi. The lenders have also threatened him that the safety of Abhi's sister, Aditi is at stake. Abhi is placed between the devil and the sea. Why is the lender after him for the money? Who is the man behind all the commotion. 

Review: 

There are some books which keep you on the edge. You have no idea about what will come up on the next page. You are curious. You want to read the book yet you are frightened. This is what the novel Twenty Twenty is! It will leave you speechless and surprised.

The story is simple one and is plotted well. The incidents have been rightly placed. The mystery factor remains intact with every page. I like the kind of novels which make you predict one thing and presents you with a completely different twist. There are some events in the story which will make you bite your nails. 

Abhi and Aditi are the two main characters. The entire novel is centered around the two. The characters have been crafted well. You build up an image about them as you read the book. You draw a mental pictures about them. 

The language is lucid and engaging. Every page of this book is as interesting as it's title. I enjoyed reading each and every page of this book. Hats off to the writer for writing such a surprising end. It was a show stealer. 

I rate: 

Cover: 3/5 

Characters: 3.5/5 

Story: 4/5 

My overall rating for 'Twenty Twenty: A Race Against Time' is 4/5 stars.

Buy your copies on Amazon.

37+ Grace Marks... Because life is beyond numbers! by Vishal Anand - Book Review

"The same old wine presented in a new bottle."

Book Name- 37+ Grace Marks... Because life is beyond numbers! 

Author- Vishal Anand 

Publisher- Srishti Publishers and Distributors 

Price- Rs. 175 

Blurb- 

What happens when you fall in love at first sight? That too in college, which is supposed to be the best time of one's life. But is it the best place to find love too? 

Viraj falls head over heels in love with his classmate Nimisha, who could make boys on campus go crazy. While his friends Punit and Sahil just want to have fun - despite poor mark-sheets, grace marks to pass, and other everyday adventures - Viraj wants more from his life and love. 

Life has led Viraj to the edge of a cliff. He has a choice to make – to forget everything and jump, or fight. 

What brought him here? An unrequited love, encounters with law, or the dilemma of grace marks? Where does Viraj's story eventually end? 

Welcome to 37 + Grace Marks, Viraj's journey to discover that there is more to life than marks. 

Story in a nutshell-

As the title of the book suggests, this book is set in college and talks about college life. Viraj, the protagonist, is an engineering student. He is not much into academics and believes in clearing his exams with just passing marks. Just like it happens in most novels, Viraj falls head over heels in love with Nimisha. He flirts with her during the initial days before confessing his love to her. Nimisha refuses to acknowledge his love. On the contrary, she rebukes him for taking to a wrong method in order to get in touch with her. Viraj is left heart-broken. Does Viraj give up on his first love? Does he manage to get out of the-passing-marks cycle? 

Review- 

Teenage romances do not interest me these days. I was asked to review this book by Anmol from Arudhaa Club. The first impression of this book was a good one. The blurb seemed interesting and the cover design caught my eye. I started reading the book with an expectation that it will give me something good to read. At one point of time, I had a feeling that the story was fresh. But then over time, I knew that I was drinking the same wine from a different bottle. 

The story is that of college romance which has escapades of hatred, jealousy, failure and hope. The plot is a very common one. It is presented differently with new incidents. The third person narration of this story makes reading a pleasant experience. The language is lucid and easily comprehensible. Since it's a story set in college, there are many characters. Viraj is an emotional guy. The things he does for Nimisha are really cute. Viraj's friends have always been supporting him. Their friendship made me jealous. 

37+ Grace Marks is one story that will make you grow interested in the book at one point of time while take away curiosity at the other. There are many surprise elements in this book. One can learn a few life lessons too. However, the book failed to create a place in my heart. 

I rate: 

Cover: 3/5 

Characters: 3/5 

Story: 3/5 

I rate 37+ Grace Marks with 3/5 stars.

You can buy your copies on Amazon.

Book Review- Corridors of life - A talk with your own soul by Ajay Kumar

"Corridors of Life is surely an inspiring read!"

Book Name- Corridors of life - A talk with your own soul

Author- Ajay Kumar

Publisher- Invincible Publishers

Blurb-

I do have a dream to reach to every that person who is fighting everyday with complications of life. I believe that this book would be the first step to create a drastic change in life of those people who will read it by feeling the aroma of the thoughts. A manual towards success is in your hand try to observe every part of your life accordingly. " Every Action has two results positive and negative Connecting with negative will make you cry And Connecting with positive will give you sky.....

Review-

There are many self help books written which talk about how to be happy, how to be successful, how to be rich etc. But there are very few books which talk all about them. Corridors of life is one such book which talks about everything. Just as mixed fruit jam has all fruits, this book too has various flavors of life. Fir example- It talks about finding motivation, managing anger and many more aspects of life. The book contains 30 chapters. All of them being unique and talk about unique things.

The author has used casual language and puts forth his points by citing an example from day to day life. You will feel that the author is conversing with you when reading this book. The author has used plain and simple English which makes his book an engaging read. The book is sure to affect the lives of the readers in a positive way. 

I rate: 

Cover: 2.5/5 

Corridors of life gets a rating of 3.5/5 stars from me. 

Buy your copies on Amazon.