Book Review- Figmented Reality by Zuko

Book Name: Figmented Reality 

Author: Zuko 

Publisher: Frog Books 

Price: Rs. 150 

Blurb: 

Addiction blurs our hold on reality; people say. But what if addiction becomes our reality? Siddharth had a fair few addictions in his wake. The challenge now was to differentiate between the ideal world and the real world. Will Siddharth be able to overcome his addictions and find true love. Or is it just another addiction? This book is not a biography of the author but is written in a way that author is the protagonist. 

Story in a nutshell: 

Siddharth is a young boy who is addicted to sex and masturbation. He has never had a serious girlfriend for he talks sex to them and they shoo him away. He realises that he needs help and enrolls himself at some addiction control programme. He meets Veena there and the feelings that he had suppressed for so long crop up again. Veena had once visited his home with her kids and Siddharth had a huge crush on her. He realises that Veena is divorced and starts to believe that he could be with her. Does he confess his feelings to her? How does Siddharth become an addict? Does he get rid of his addictions? Or does Veena turn into an addiction? 

Review: 

The cover of Figmented Reality goes very well with the title and the blurb. Black and white, to me, symbolize lies and truth, no and yes, fake and real. The story revolves around this premise and I believe the cover demonstrated it the best. 

Coming to the story, it revolves around Siddharth and his life. There are many people like Siddharth in this world addicted to something. Addiction can be fatal. The end of this story proves it. The story begins with Siddharth's meet with Veena when he's 16. The story is then fast forwarded and we, now, find Siddharth at 23. The chapters are narrated in a different pattern. A short writeup about addiction is given at the beginning of each chapter and then the story continues. I couldn't find the link between the two at few places. But I really liked those writeups. They are indeed great. Its just that their placement was inappropriate. The story has been written in first person narrative and the author has done justice with the narration. It is easy and understandable. The language is lucid and clear. However, there are a few places in the story where you get lost and wonder what is happening. The incidents have been structured well and their overall flow is good. The story has many incidents that will leave you surprised. For example: the sexual abuse incident and the end.

 

Psychology, obsession, sex, addiction are the words that will cross your mind when you finish reading this book. If you're seeking for something in love that turns into obsession, a habit that turns into addiction then you must go for this book. 

Merits: 

• The write-ups about addiction at the beginning of few chapters was food for thought. 
• The cover. 
• The end of the story was a surprising one. 

Demerits: 

• The story begins with Siddharth drooling over Veena's assets. I found it a little weird. The start of the story could have been one of the write-ups. Beginning the story with that incident was a turn off. 
• The story gets confusing at many places. 
• The end of the story could have been presented in a better way. 

I rate:

Cover: 4/5 

Characters: 2/5 

Story: 2.5/5 

I rate 'Figmented Reality' with 2.5/5 stars.

You can book your copies on Amazon.

Book Review - The Unpredictable Heart by Moksh

Book Name: The Unpredictable Heart

Author: Moksh

Publisher: Patridge India 

Price: Rs. 299

Story in a nutshell:

The Unpredictable Heart is a story of Mrinav and his love life. He works at a call center and does his work quite well. Mrinav falls in that category of age wherein one has many crushes and infatuations. He develops feelings for Rati who reveals to him the news of her marriage the day he proposes to her. Time flies and he finds himself interested in Ankita. He never gathers courage to convey his feelings to her. She leaves the city for Chennai. Mrinav is heartbroken. Is he able to get hold of his life and move on? Who is Jiya and why does she want to help him?

Review:

The cover of the book goes perfectly well with the title as well as the story. Red is the color of love - the right color for a love story novel.

Coming to the story, the story of The Unpredictable Heart is simple and heart touching one. It is written straight from heart and doesn't have many twists and turns. The frankness of the author is visible at many places. It is a perfect book for readers who enjoy reafingreading romance. Moving on to the narration, it is done in first person narrative. The narration is simple and you'll like the simplicity from this novel. The language is simple and the dialogues seem innocent and sweet. There aren't many main characters. Though the story mentions a few throughout the read, they aren't the backbone of this story. You'll fall in love withMrinav's innocence and Jiya's maturity. You'll envy Mrinav for having friends like Aditya and Jatin.

The Unpredictable Heart is a good read for all romance lovers out there. The story is about love and companionship. It has many lessons to give but you need a foresight to grab them!

Merits:

• The innocence in the story.
• The story has an open end which very well makes us expect a sequel. Waiting to hear from the author the announcement of a sequel.

Demerits:

• There isn't a specific blurb. Lines from the story are taken and put on the cover. A blurb would have been good. Also, the font size of these lines are very small and hence, unreadable.

I rate:

Cover: 3.5/5

Characters: 3/5

Storu: 3/5

The Unpredictable Heart gets 3/5 stars from me.

If you have liked my review, go to Amazon.in and buy this novel.

Book Review: Because... Every raindrop is a hope by Sankalp Kohli and Mansi Sharma

This book is provided by Arudha Club in exchange for a genuine review.

Book Name: Because... Every raindrop is a hope

Authors: Sankalp Kohli and Mansi Sharma

Publisher: General Press

Price: Rs. 175

Blurb:

Caught in the turmoil of an Underrated Love and an Overrated Infatuation, Raj, a young boy with larger than life dreams, from a small town of Kanpur, is at the cross road of life, where every road ahead leads to nothing but a Dead-end. Through the grueling course of circumstances, he is subjected to the bitter tests of life, where he fails to justify his one decision of parting ways with Mahek. But, when Mahek flashes out of his life, leaving him all alone, the guilt of not been forgiven by her, ruins his soul; and that frustration leads him into seclusion, devoid of even his best buddies - Rohan and Rahul. Failed love, broken friendship, a hurt ego and lost soul - Raj is doomed to darkness. With no ray of hope ahead, just when Raj is about to give up on life, he come across a note, written to him by his favorite professor, "Never give up Raj Because Every Raindrop is a Hope" which brings Raj face to face with his own self. Why Love that makes Life beautiful, turns into Satan? Why friendship one fine day loses all its meaning? Why on the crowded roads of Mumbai city, Raj finds himself walking all alone? Will Raj challenge Life and fight back with the sword of Hope or will he take the easy way out by succumbing to the arduous tests of time.

Story in a nutshell:

Scoring good marks- getting admitted into one of the best colleges- finding a secure, well paid job -- This is the life of most of the youngsters in teenage. Raj lands in Mumbai for higher studies. Mumbai has a lot to offer to him apart from education. It offers him friendship, love, infatuation, success, jealousy and many more things. Life offers many good things to him. He is happy leading his life when his past knocks at his door. He gets carried away with his past only to spoil his present and future. One wrong decision ruins his life. Will Raj manage to mend things right? Will he fight back without losing hope?

Review:

'Because... Every raindrop is a hope' - the title is interesting. It gives you an insight that the story will teach you to be hopeful. The cover could have been better for I felt that it didn't have any relation to the story except for the fact that the boy is alone. The story starts with Raj first step in Mumbai. The authors have described Mumbai well. Those people who have visited the city will relate to it instantly. And then comes the part of college life. Ragging, bunking, internals, sessionals - the book has it all. The narration is done in first person narrative. It is simple and casual. The language is easily comprehensible. The story takes you through the college days of Raj's life. It talks about his relationships, his friendships, his success and also, his failure. I found the story to be quite frank.

Likes:

• Raj's competitive attitude.
• Raj and Mahek's friendship and their love.
• The friendship which Raj shares with Rahul and Rohan.
• The verses in few chapters.
• The conversation between Prof. Tripathi and Raj.
• The lesson that the book gives out to the readers- never lose hope.

Dislikes:

• The names of Raj's friends - Rahul and Rohan. They are confusing.
• I didn't find anything new in this story. The plot was a common one.

I rate:

Cover: 2/5

Characters: 3.5/5

Story: 3/5

I rate 'Because... Every raindrop is a hope' with 3/5 stars.

Buy this book on Amazon.

Book Review: The Golden Temple by Raj Kiran Atagaraha

Book Name: The Golden Temple 

Author: Raj Kiran Atagaraha 

Publisher: Zorba Books 

Price: Rs. 169

Blurb: 

I found you, I found God. Raj is excited to visit the Golden Temple for the first time. But it's not just the Guru Granth Sahib whom he meets in Amritsar, there's someone else waiting for him on the way Geet. A day spent together under the watchful eyes of Waheguru and Geet becomes a teacher for Raj. Neither of them realizes when the discussions on Sikhism end up teaching them secret lessons of love. It takes Raj a lot of time and courage to profess his love for Geet. But there's a wall standing in front of his 'I love you' a wall that was built way back in 1984. Desperate to break that wall, Raj returns to the Golden Temple again. Does the Golden Temple really hold any answers for him? Is Waheguru really watching over the two hearts that he had brought together?

Story in a nutshell: 

Lova can happen with any person at any place and at any point of time. Raj had never imagined that a visit to The Golden Temple would change his life forever. He leaves his place as usual thinking that his trip to Amritsar would be just another outing. He meets a girl named Geet on the bus. He learns that she too was going to the temple. Geet agrees to become is guide. Friendship starts brewing between the two. A few visits to the temple, Raj becomes educated with religious teachings of Sikhism courtesy Geet. They become best of friends and fall in love. The day Raj proposes his love to her, Geet abandons him. He happens to come to know about the 1984 incident. Will Raj be successful in finding his love? Will the incident that has left bitter minds ever be forgotten and forgiven? 

Review: 

Love stories are preferred by many and romance is favorite genre of many readers. Would you pick up a book that givea you an insight of a religion in addition to a love story? The Golden Temple as the name suggests is a love story of Raj, a Hindu boy and Geet, a Sikh girl. The cover is beautiful. The picture of the Golden Temple on the cover tells you that it is the essence of the story. The story begins with a simple bus journey which happens to transform the lives of the protagonist. The story is being narrated in first person narrative. It is done straight from the heart. There aren't fancy words used. The simple and innocent narration will touch your heart. There aren't many twists and turns in the story. The book is knowledgeable - a person having zero knowledge of Sikhism will find many teachings of the religion in this book.

Merits:

• The innocence in the story.
• The manner in which Geet educates Raj about Sikhism.
• Raj's effort to bring a change in the minds of people.

Demerits:

• The story is comparatively short. It ends real soon. I wanted to read more.

I rate:

Cover: 3/5

Characters: 3/5

Story: 4/5

I rate 'The Golden Temple' with 4/5 stars.

It's time you buy this wonderful book. It's available on Amazon.

Book Review: Control The Treacherous Moon by Tushar Janjalkar

Book Name: Control The Treacherous Moon

Author: Tushar Janjalkar

  

Publisher: Omji Publishing House 

Price: Rs. 175

Blurb: 

They say your acts resemble the machinations of your thoughts. But the great question is: Are your thoughts, your feelings really yours? The financial capital of the world, New York, is terror-stricken. Death is crawling forth from the sewers, every full moon nights. On each occasion, an Indian is found involved and the diplomatic relations between the two countries are at breaking point. NYP detective John is continuously failing to track down the true perpetrators behind these incidents. The situation worsens when John's case causes a threat to his love, Disha, a neurologist. Alongside, her security becomes his priority. When Disha learns that it's not just her life at stake and her own past has united with the present in the cabal to ruin the future of many lives, she secretly sets out to uncover the mystery. Will Disha and John succeed in their journeys? Or will end up losing everything including their love? And above all, will the secret of moon ultimately be revealed? 

Story in a nutshell: 

A group of scientists are working  on device which can control any machine by using  brain waves. There occurs a fallout between the team members as there are rumours that one of them is involved in terrorist association. He is prohibited from conducting the research and is thrown out of the team. Few days later, device goes missing. Strange accidents happen with the other team members as well. One after the other all the team members are killed except for one scientist who is in coma. He is the only recluse for the detectives to solve this case. Another fact that cannot be missed is that the strange accidents happen on the full moon's day. Will the detectives be able to solve the case? Or will America experience another terror attack? 

Review: 

It is said that one should never judge a book by its cover. This book falls in that category. The cover isn't quite appealing but the blurb is! It creates curiosity in the minds of the readers. Coming to the story, the plot has been thoughtfully crafted. The author has taken into consideration all the points and then plotted this story. The incidents and events have been rightly placed. I could feel it when I started reading. The author has ended every chapter at a very important turning point and this compels you not to put down the book. The book has the ability to keep you hooked onto it.The narration is done in third person. It is lucid and engaging. The author has written this story in simple English and hence, is an easy read. Interesting storyline and simple yet engaging narration are the two strong positives of this story. It is an amazing read. 

Positives: 

• The research that the author has done. 
• The plot that is crafted so thoughtfully. 
• The suspense that is maintained until the end. 

Negatives: 

• The cover could have been better. 

I rate: 

Cover: 2/5 

Characters: 3.5/5 

Story: 4.5/5 

I rate 'Control The Treacherous Moon' with 4/5 stars.

Liked my review? It's time you get your copies. Click here to buy.

Book Review: The Coffee and The Cola by Kapil Muzumdar

Book Name:  The Coffee and The Cola 

Author: Kapil Muzumdar 

Publisher: Notion Press 

Price: Rs. 199 

Blurb:

With a coffee, you get addicted. With a cola, you mix it with an addiction. One you'd like to have by your side when you begin a relationship, while the other serves as a shoulder to lean on when you end one. The Coffee and The Cola comes from the author's belief that there is a correlation between traits in women and the properties of these two beverages. 

This book traverses through an ordinary narrative built around an extraordinary premise. 

Men could devour him. And as the story progresses, female readers could end up relating to one of the two molds or simply loathe! 

Story in a nutshell:

The Coffee and The Cola is a story about Kapil, the narrator and the protagonist, Rahul. Rahul comes from a broken family. His parents are divorced. He is well settled in his job and believes that it's time he gets married. He registers himself on a matrimonial site. He finds Radha through the site and they click instantly. Rahul dreams of his future with Radha only to find that Radha has taken up an assignment overseas. Rahul is heart broken. He meets Nora during this time and finds solace in her company. What does Rahul do when Radha returns back to India abandoning her job? This story is about Rahul - a guy confused between The Coffee- Radha and The Cola- Nora.

 

Review:

The Coffee and The Cola - just as the name suggests is a hatke kind of a novella. It is said that everyone remembers the first person to do a certain thing. Noone remembers the second. In similar way, the author will be remembered for his debut book. The Coffee and The Cola is a kind of story that can happen to anyone of us. Having a liking for two person at a time often confuses us. The author has narrated to us a story of a guy who has been in similar situation. The author uses coffee and cola to help distinguish the behaviour of women. He feels that a woman is either a coffee or a cola. Confused about what I am saying? You must read this book.The story primarily revolves around Rahul, the protagonist and his interests - Radha and Nora. The narrator, Kapil is Rahul's acquaintance. The story doesn't have many characters. Their role is limited. I believe that their part could have been made more engaging. The most appealing feature of this book is the character that of Radha and Nora. They both are simply amazing. 

The narration has been done in first person and has been done exceptionally well. That personal touch in the narration makes reading an awesome experience. There isn't use if fancy words and idioms. The book is written straight from heart. The quotations about the coffee and the cola are cherries on the cake. They are very much relatable. If you're a girl, you'll wonder to which category you belong - the coffee or the cola. And if you're a guy, you'll think to which category your girl belongs to. These thoughts will come to your mind when reading the quotations. 

The story will make you ponder over the behavior of women. I loved the author's way of attributing women to the two drinks. The book is truly an ordinary story built around extraordinary premise. A must read! 

Likes: 

• The extraordinary premise - the coffee and cola. 
• The simple and realistic narration. 
• The quotations from the story. 

Note to the author: I thought over both the types - the coffee and the cola and have reached to a conclusion that I don't belong to either of them. I exhibit both the traits. What should I call myself? Cola-fee? 

I rate: 

Cover- 3.5/5 

Characters- 4/5 

Story- 4/5 

Overall I rate 'The Coffee and The Cola' with 4/5 stars. 

Curious about the book? Buy it on Amazon.

Book Review - The Icelandic Voyage by Dr. Amit Gupta

Book Name: The Icelandic Voyage 

Author: Dr. Amit Gupta 

Publisher: Invincible Publishers 

Price: Rs. 490 

Blurb:

Travel books strive on cliches. And mostly it is a single man on a 'journey of self-discovery', phew. Well, not this one. The author along with his family decides to take a trip to the outlandish Iceland. It was a huge task first of all to convince his family to side-line a trip to the sandy beaches of Italy or France and linger upon the idea of a country which has active volcanoes. After a delayed nod, they set on a road trip to discover the most unusual tourist destinations in the world. So, what sets Iceland apart, the black beaches, or a crashed plane turned into a tourist spot, or the city where the population of people can be counted on your fingers? Or the non-existence of mosquitoes & McDonalds. They don't coincide but you cannot find one in Iceland. Read their journey about how the author faces his family's indolent behaviour and how he deals with it throughout the whole trip. And also, take a glimpse of a rendition of 'Gerua', Gupta family style. 

Review:

'The world is a book and those who don't travel read just one page.' 

Dr. Gupta's book, The Icelandic Voyage is his travel experience to Iceland. Reading someone else's travel experience always leaves me in awe. Dr. Gupta's book did the same to me. Written in simple and plain English, Dr. Gupta tours you through his entire journey in a very easy and engrossing way. He talks about each and every moment he spent in Iceland. Right from waking up in morning to getting to bed at night, from breakfast to supper, he talks about it all. I liked the way Dr. Gupta has presented his book. The pictures are awesome and are a treat for the eyes. You will be awestruck by the beauty of the place. Most of us might not be knowing that the famous Gerua song from Dilwale was shot here. Dr. Gupta has also added a chapter named miscellaneous safety and fun tips which I feel is quite helpful. The hard bound book and the glossy pages are also a plus point of this book. 

Reading this book will surely make you want to visit this place. It's a heaven on earth. The travel bug has bitten me. I would love to visit Iceland. 

I rate:

Cover: 4/5 

I rate 'The Icelandic Voyage' with 4/5 stars. 

Buy this amazing travel account on Amazon - Hard Cover and eBook.

Book Review- The Soul Charmer by Richa Saxena

Book Name: The Soul Charmer 

Poetess: Richa Saxena 

Publisher: Half Baked Beans

  

Price: Rs. 67 

Blurb: 

Remember the first time you uttered those three important words expressing your love or the first time when you said 'goodbye' to your loved one. The first time, you got a jolt in your heart or the first time you held a life in your arms. 

Richa Saxena has tried to put forth a compilation of thirty-five surreal poems that would recreate that magic and unleash your deepest thoughts. 

Seasons must have passed by, but that feeling still remains in the heart. 

Her poems would revive those very thoughts, the ones said and the ones that remained unsaid .

  

Review: 

'The Soul Charmer' - as the name suggests the book charms your soul. There's magic in Richa's poems. These poems tingle your hearts. You will feel the rush of emotions. You will feel nostalgic. You will feel loved. Richa's poems will show you the mirror to your true feelings. There are a few stories and poems which make you aware of those hidden feelings, emotions inside you. A few of Richa's poems did that to me. 

These 35 poems will walk you through varied emotions of life - love, longing, realisations and many others. Each poem has that unique personal touch to it which will make you feel like it has been written for you. The thing that I liked the most is the use of simple and easily comprehensible language. There aren't fancy words used. A person having limited knowledge of English can also read and understand Richa's verses. Secondly, the poems are short and convey its message very well. 

The poems I loved from this collection are: 

• She is the girl. 
• The Sinful night. 
• To the girl in love. 
• The lifeless life. 
• Tonight, i see you. 
• Love me tonight. 
• Do you love me, still? 
• To the love of my life. 
• The silent tormentor. 
• To love, again. 

The Soul Charmer is a poetry collection that shouldn't be missed. 

I rate 'The Soul Charmer' with 5/5 stars.

Buy this amazing poetry collection on Amazon.

Book Review- Her Last Wish by Ajay K Pandey

Book Name: Her Last Wish 

Author: Ajay K Pandey 

Publisher: Srishti Publishers and Distributors 

Price: Rs. 175 

Blurb: 

His father's over expectations only ruined his self-confidence further with each failure. A ray of hope walked into his life as his wife, a charismatic personality spreading joy wherever she went. Everything is going per plan, but darkness comes knocking soon. He finds out that she does not have much time to live and takes it upon himself to fight all odds – even his family, if need be – to help her fight her medical condition. His father sees his own redemption in helping them, he knows his son will be a winner only if he will fight for her, with her. Will a defeated son prove himself to be a good husband? Will the father-son duo together be able to change the course of fate? Her Last Wish is an inspiring story of love, relationships and sacrifice, which proves once again how a good wife makes the best husband. 

Story in a nutshell: 

What would you do if you are told that your better half is diagnosed with HIV and has a limited time to live? Won't you be swept off your feet? Meet Vijay, the protagonist who has encontered a similar situation in his life. His wife is diagnosed HIV positive and is pregnant. Vijay is determined to fight the disease. But will he be successful? Her last wish is a story of a loving husband who wants to fulfill all the wishes of his dying wife. Its a story of a father of the baby whose mother won't be able to see him grow. 

Review: 

The story begins with a happy moment which turns into a sad one. The protagonist comes to know about the disease his wife is suffering from. He takes us through his childhood and his college days. He also talks about how he meets Astha and their marriage. The story takes a turn when Vijay discovers about Astha's wishes and decides to try to fulfil all of them. 

The narration has been done in first person narrative. The language is simple and has that personal touch which will make you feel like you've known the characters since quite long time. There are not many characters involved. The ones which are have a significant role to play. The chapters wherein the other characters speak their heart are like cherries on the cake. The incidents have been rightly placed. 

Her last week is a book that is written from heart. You will feel it once you read it. An emotional tale for all romance lovers out there! 

Merits: 

• The author has done a commendable job by speaking about HIV disease and also about how the HIV positive patients are looked upon and treated by others. 
• Author has once again proved that love is unconditional. 

I rate: 

Cover: 3/5 

Characters: 3.5/5 

Story: 3.5/5 

I rate 'Her last wish' with 3.5/5 stars. 

If you like reading love stories having an emotional touch, you should go for this book. It is available on Amazon.