Teen Trilogy: Three Graphic Novels in OneAuthor: Monisha K. GumberPublisher: Leadstart Publishing Pvt. Ltd.Rating: 3.5/5 Teen Trilogy is a collection of three books by Monisha Gumber that entail the pathos associated with teenage years. Having read Sick of Being Healthy and Dying to Live, it didn’t come as a surprise that the third book, Dolly Won’t Play, was also as interesting as the other two books. Kudos to the fabulous illustrations and the resonating narrative that has the calibre to hook the readers throughout the reading experience. The main theme of the stories revolves around self-love and acceptance. Since the characters generally reel under peer pressure and insecurity complex, the…

The Diwali PartyAuthor: Leena SaldanhaPublisher: Leadstart PublishersRating: 3/5 “Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you; spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.” — Amy Poehler The Diwali Party is quite literally a joy ride on which four women in their thirties embark. Rekha, Maya, Tilly and Zoya- the four pillars of friendship! These four women, while being caught up in the whirlpool of life and its nuances, decide to relive the precious moments they had spent when young. Hence, they decide to gather and group to gloat over their new-found energy and enthusiasm. The story is fast-paced but at times, it…

In Loving MemoryAuthor: Daniel Paul SinghPublisher: Leadstart PublishersRating: 3.5/5 Often love makes one go to such extremes that coming back from that limbo almost seems impossible. Such is the story of ‘In Loving Memory’ that begins with a romantic setting but soon transforms into a psychological thriller. Unanticipated twists, unfathomable characters and intriguing plot line-all form some of the critical elements of this novel. The story revolves around Rimi and Nivas’s love story and Dhruv and Nisha’s love story. While the former couldn’t come to fruition owing to sudden drift in one of the character’s viewpoint, the latter encountered several roadblocks. Both the love stories eventually lead to a series…

Etchings of First Quarter of 2020Author: Sabarna RoyPublisher: Leadstart PublicationsRating: 4/5 I have mentioned this before and I would like to mention this again that my love for Literature only became more profound when I experimented with the content and tried to understand the various point of views. Poets like Percy Shelly, John Keats and William Wordsworth have already written quite a many poems describing man’s quest to find the ultimate happiness and it is those poems that often make me question the life that all of us are living. Touching upon a number of essential topics, Sabarna Roy’s Etchings of the First Quarter of 2020 is a marvellous example…

Dark and White: Vol.1Author: Shweta BrijpuriaPublisher: Leadstart PublishersRating: 3/5 Yin and yang simply represent the natural dualities in our world like hot and cold, day and night, dark and white and love and hate! These are also the symbols of balance because that is what sustains the whole system. Caught in the whirlpool of plentiful lies and the swamp of hatred that often remains unseen, Dark and White explores the pathos of political influence and bigotry that often jeopardises even the most precious and pious relationships. When Keval Kishore passes away leaving behind an umpteen number of entangled threads that link to his personal as well as professional life, the…

We Beat the GodsAuthor: Saad QuadriPublisher: Leadstart InkstateRating: 2.5/5 Often we associate literary devices with poetry and not prose. Why you may ask? Well, it is so because the literary device help in adding flavour to the language. While the prose is straightforward, poetry comprises fewer words that ‘should’ speak volumes. Hence, the literary devices add to the rhythm and insights. We Beat the Gods is more inclined towards being an allegory. The excessive use of metaphors, personifications, metonymy and synecdoches add to the overall beauty of this prose. We Beat the Gods revolves around a mysterious man who sits on a bench facing the river. He is lost in…

The Coalbearer’s HomeAuthor: Alka SinghPublisher: Leadstart InkstateRating: 3/5 One of the best things about contemporary fiction is that it has the calibre of striking the right chord owing to its inspiration from true events. Unlike the make-belief of fiction, The Coalbearer’s Home is a story that originates in Darjeeling and pans around the several evils that persist in the society even today. Be it political bigotry, violence, money laundering or betrayal, the protagonist makes his way through the misfortunes and inspires the readers in every possible way. The Coalbearer’s Home uses pun in its very title. While most of us would assume that the author talks about brick and mortar,…

Curse of SuspicionAuthor: Dr. Sujay KantawalaPublisher: Leadstart PublishersRating: 3/5 Trust is a dicey subject. Not everyone is willing to put in that kind of effort to make oneself trustworthy. Following the same principle is the story of the novella ‘Curse of Suspicion’. Trying to showcase the true side of a diabolical mind, the book mixes fiction and fantasy together in an attempt to present a plot that involves thrill and suspense. Curse of Suspicion is a story of a hapless child who bears the brunt of his father’s actions. Accused of the murder of his mother, Satyajit, is at loggerheads; he doesn’t know what to do. His father, Duryodhan, is…