Book Reviews
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Book Review: The Wonders We Seek by Saadia Faruqi and Aneesa Mumtaz
The Wonders We Seek explores the life of several Muslims (the community that is always looked down upon) who contributed to making the world a better place. People like Malala Yusufzai, Benazir Bhutto, Ibn Sina, Malcolm X, Zheng He, Abdul Rahman and many more unsung heroes have missed a place in the History books because their efforts have not gained enough popularity. Whether it is Razia Sultan, who was the Iltimush’s daughter and became the fifth sultan of the Mamluk dynasty or Nana Asma’u, who was an African poet and educator, each personality whose biography is a part of this book is interesting and important. The Wonders We Seek includes…
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Book Review: What the Heck Do I Do With My Life? By Ravi Venkatesan
What the Heck Do I Do With My Life?Author: Ravi VenkatesanPublisher: Rupa PublicationsRating: 4.5/5 The pandemic has wreaked havoc in the world. We are trying to adjust to the new circumstances and are still struggling to make the ends meet. Most often we end up wondering what we should do with our life because every possible doorway to happier days seems closed. That’s where this book comes into play. What the Heck Do I Do With My Life is a self-help book that lays the foundation of finding your purpose in life so that you live intentionally and not just ‘drift like a log of wood’. Using a near-perfect analogy…
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Book Review: Beasts and Beauty by Soman Chainani
Beasts and Beauty: Dangerous TalesAuthor: Soman ChainaniPublisher: 4thestate.co.uk (HarperCollins, India) As a child, I always dreamt of a happily-ever-after. The culprit behind perpetuating this idea in my mind was none other than Disney and its fairytales. The ideas of damsel in distress, tall-dark-handsome prince to the rescue, evil stepmother and magical love seemed so beautiful. Cinderella, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood and many other fairy tales were the epitome of love and romance. Never in my wildest imagination did I think of an alternate possibility because that would mean watching my idea of romance shatter before my eyes. When ‘Into the Woods’ was released, I was overwhelmed by…
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Book Review: Art of Winning by Radhakrishnan Pillai
Art of Winning: The Chanakya WayAuthor: Radhakrishnan PillaiPublisher: Rupa PublicationsRating: 4/5 Success is the ultimate destination that each individual craves. How or whether one reaches this destination is a bone of contention. Some say that success depends on luck while some believe that success is a result of hard work. Some even say that values determine if one is going to become successful or not. Rather than believing what ‘some’ have to say, it is always wise to follow your instinct after gathering enough knowledge from all possible sources. Art of winning focuses on just that- the importance of meticulous planning and efficient execution of strategies. The Chanakya Neeti forms…
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Book Review: The Coward and the Sword by Jugal Hansraj
The Coward and the SwordAuthor: Jugal HansrajPublisher: Harper Collins, India Children’s fiction has always intrigued me for two reasons: one, it leaves the door ajar for imagination and two, it caters to the young mind by utilizing the creativity of writers (such a noble cause). The Coward and the Sword is one such book that uses a fictional realm to establish the fact that courage lies within and a slight spark is enough to bring it to the forefront. The story is set in the kingdom of Kofu that inhabits brave yet peace-loving people. King Rissho rules the kingdom with generosity and honesty. His son, Kadis, is the heir to…
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Book Review: Best Intentions by Simran Dhir
Best IntentionsAuthor: Simran DhirPublisher: Harper Collins, IndiaRating: 3.5/5 Often what lies before the eyes is untrue! This holds true for relationships too. Man is a social animal and to meet his needs, man can go to any length, take advantage of anyone or anything and can even give up what’s most precious to him. Best intentions marshals several characters in one single setting and gives us a glimpse of life that has a tinge of politics, ambition, love, jealousy, hatred and vengeance. The story begins with a conversation about Gayatri’s marriage that’s overdue for a long time. The Mehras are losing their wits because their daughter is keener on saving…
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Book Review: The Shadow on the Wall by Ruskin Bond
The Shadow on the WallAuthor: Ruskin BondPublisher: Aleph Book CompanyRating: 4/5 Ruskin Bond might not be my favourite author yet I cannot deny the feeling of joy and contentment that I get when I read his stories. They are written straight from the heart. The vivid imagery and use of literary devices make the reading experience enjoyable. The Shadow on the Wall is another collection of short stories (this time, the stories reek of mystery, thrill and hair-raising encounters) that showcase the sheer brilliance of Sir Bond with words! The Shadow on the Wall talks about shadows in the form of doppelgangers, strange neighbours, shady passersby and spirits that lurk…
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Book Review: I Think You’re on Mute by Ellie Ross
I Think Your’re on MuteAuthor: Ellie RossPublisher: Bonnier Books (UK) Stuck in the house, glaring at the webcam for hours and trying to earn the bread by working from home, each one of us has experienced the frustration of socializing virtually and spending umpteen hours working like machines. I Think You’re on Mute comes like a breath of fresh air because it promises to provide solutions to all the uncanny questions that make the susurration of our brain even louder. Divided into four sections: work, personal, online dating and social media, this book has intelligent and witty replies to some of the most common questions like Is it rude to…
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Book Review: The Ascendance of Evil by Abhinav
The Ascendance of Evil (Book #3 in the Kalki Chronicles)Author: AbhinavPublisher: Penguin Books Here comes the final book in the Kalki Chronicles that concludes the battle between good and evil, leaving the readers more hopeful and enlightened. Anirudh’s mysterious death and his revival help in the progression of the story. In this book, Anirudh’s character is explored with greater intent and that brings life to this avatar of Lord Vishnu. With satire in place and personification of Prakriti playing the right role, the author meticulously crafts the details that conclude the long lost battle. Deriving the protagonist’s learning from Bhagwad Gita, the story touches upon the spiritual aspect as well.…
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Book Review: Kali’s Retribution by Abhinav
Kali’s Retribution (Book #2 in the Kalki Chronicles)Author: AbhinavPublisher: Penguin Books The Kalki Chronicles is part mythology and part contemporary fiction that traces Anirudh’s journey of retrospection and realization as the tenth avatar of Lord Vishnu. This is one of those book series where the author deftly shuffles between two timelines and piques the interest of the readers with enough cliffhangers. Kali’s Retribution is the second book in the series and it focuses on the duel between Anirudh, who has now accepted his new reality and identified his purpose too, and Kali, the lord of Evil. The battle to conquer the mortal world is something to look out for in…
