The Prophet PartyAuthor: Ashish Bhardwaj & Dipti PatelPublisher: Rumour BooksRating: 3.5/5 Finally, another blunt approach at understanding and decoding religion and religious views. ‘The Prophet Party’ uses allegory as a tool to address the common problems that plague the world. Using Pema as the pivot and spokesperson, the authors deftly picture a world devoid of baseless rules and norms but a place that thrives on love alone. This short story begins with the end. When Pema dies, he meets the lord and unravels several mysteries associated with the world of the Prophets. Following that, the inquisitive soul that he is, Pema manages to ask the Prophet Party several other questions…

You Don’t Love Me the Way I Love YouAuthor: Ekta Renu ChandnaPublisher: Blue Rose PublishersRating: 3/5 Let me get straight to the point! This is a college romance that aims to end on a cliffhanger and deals with the emotional turmoil and the tumultuous state of mind the youngsters have when they fall in love for the first time. You Don’t Love Me the Way I Love You is a story that revolves around Shreya, Aarav and Meera. While Shreya believes in going with the flow and enjoying every moment of her journey with Aarav, Meera is sceptical about her love life. Emotional yet quirky at times, this story is…

Sufi LyricsTranslated by: Christopher ShacklePublisher: Harper Collins PublishersRating: 4/5 Syed Abdullah Shah Gilani, known as Bulleh Shah, was a Punjabi philosopher and Sufi poet during 17th-century Punjab. His works have been translated widely and the lyrics of his Sufi poems have been used in Bollywood songs like Bandeya, Bulla ke Jana, etc. Known for his liberating verses, Bulle Shah’s poetry is often the most sought option when it comes to finding solace in words and thoughts. Since Punjabi is a biscriptal language that can be inscribed in Gurmukhi in Indian Punjab and in Shahmukhi in Pakistan Punjab, the Sufi poets like Bulle Shah made an evident effort to erase the…

Plan SeaAuthor: S. E. AnsleyPublisher: Self- publishedRating: 4/5 To some people, travelling is the only means to reset their minds and set forth on the path of self-discovery. Whether it is the misty mountains or the pristine beaches, each place makes a spot in the heart and the lifestyle of a vagabond teaches so many new lessons that the mundane, chaotic life fails to teach. ‘Plan Sea’ is such a book. It houses the anecdotes, first-hand experiences, learnings and strategems to outwit boredom- all in one book! The author derives his inspiration from the real world where opportunities are plenty but the choice is way too difficult. In his quest…

PunisherAuthor: Sarah WeirPublisher: Coach House Press This book derives its inspiration from an indi-rock album with the same title ‘Punisher’. With overwhelming lyrics, the songs touch upon the themes of detachment, missing links/ connections with self, despondency and loneliness. The book in question, Punisher, comprises the verses that reek of emotional trauma that comes along with distanced communication and unclear expression. Punisher offers some very genuine moments of introspection when the readers might be urged to think of the umpteen possibilities that a human mind has! Right in the very beginning, the poet quotes Julia Kristeva, the author of Life and Death of Speech, and explains how the speech of…

Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-JésusAnonymousPublisher: Coach House Press Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus translates to Twenty Visions of Infant Jesus. In Western classical music and jazz, a collection of ordered pieces of instrumental pieces is called a suite. Hence, Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus is a suite of 20 such pieces. The book in question is based on the same pieces of music. It comprises essays on the themes of God, the magic of love, joyful spirit and the creativity of the divine. The composition of one of the toughest single piano pieces was done after the second world war and that inspired several poets to put their creative brains to work. Borrowing…

Be You: The Journey of Self-realizationAuthor: Chris CirakPublisher: Chris CirakRating: 3/5 Quite similar to The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck, Be You is a self-help book that helps the readers identify the barriers that prevent them from opening up their mind to a more progressive and enriching transition. It employs simple strategies that can help one achieve a clear headspace, maintain calm and invite peaceful thoughts into the mind. Divided into several chapters that deal with smaller issues one at a time, this book offers a simple narrative that often sounds repetitive as it would have been read in another book about mindfulness. Sadly, no new concepts are…