The TherapistAuthor: B.A. ParisPublisher: HQ (an imprint of Harper Collins)Rating: 3.5/5 When Alice comes to The Circle to look for the life she has always dreamt of, she is unaware of the secrets that the walls of her house hold. Not only the house but also the people in The Circle behave like the thief in the night! ‘Mum’s the word’ is what Alice is told every time her brain cells trigger an array of thoughts. There’s no one she can trust other than the dead and there’s no one to share her misery. What unfolds before the readers is a conspicuous chase to find whodunit! The Therapist by B.…

The Art of WritingAuthor: Peter YangPublishers: TCK PublishingRating: 4/5 Writing is an art and for a piece of art to be acknowledged and valued, it needs to pass the muster. Peter Yang introduces the readers to the basic nuances of writing that determine if the written material is worth getting the necessary attention. The points are basic and common yet the way he goes on to explain the value of each of them is what makes the difference. The book comprises several principles of writing. To begin with, economy (with respect to the words used) occupies the first place. Writing precise and lucid text often gives an impression that the…

The Untold Tales: Love and Other DemonsAuthor: Paras BinnyPublisher: Lab Academia PublishersRating: 3/5 It has been very well said that adversity makes men while prosperity makes monsters. Based on a similar theme, ‘The Untold Tales’ is a collection of short stories that bring out the best and the worst in humans more by choice than by accident. As long as men are taking the dose of happiness and comfort, the monster remains dormant but the moment circumstances change, the monster is unleashed. Right from thoughts to actions, everything changes. Thus, these stories have the calibre to make the readers do a double-take! A perfect blend of emotions, actions and consequences,…

The Part I Left With YouAuthor: Rahul SainiPublisher: Juggernaut PublishersRating: 3/5 Romance is a high-volume genre; it is the genre that almost every new author wants to try out. Consequently, the content/ stories are now becoming redundant and hardly any plotline appears new or refreshing. With this already in my mind, I picked Rahul Saini’s ‘The Part I Left With You’ that promised new characters, a newer setting and a different storyline. The promise is not a false promise yet there are quite many underwhelming aspects of this book that prevent it from winning the race! The story pans around the lives of Ronit Sukhdev, a sourpuss or rather a…

Utopia is a place of ideal perfection and not looking for such a place would nearly be impossible. The chaotic and mundane life forces us to escape the monotony by concocting our lives in cloud-cuckoo-land. Hence, this method of escapism often helps us reset our minds and be back to the salt mines with a renewed spirit. William Ottoway’s Utopia and Other Stories is a collection of five short stories that portray the innate quest to search for peace and ease amidst the tumultuous incidents of life. Read the complete review here: Different Truths Buying link: Amazon

Yoga for BeginnersAuthor: Ntathu AllenPublisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing PlatformRating: 3.5/5 Exercise is known not only to change our body but also our mind and soul. It forms an imperative component of our daily lives. The best part is that exercise has different forms and it depends on one’s choice which form of exercise one chooses. Yoga is also a form of exercise which has been known to provide long term health benefits. Yoga for Beginners is a comprehensive guide for people who wish to make yoga a way of life. It comprises the asanas and the right technique to perform all those asanas. An added bonus in the book is…

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…