Brand New StartAuthor: Mainak DharPublisher: Bloomsbury, IndiaRating: 4/5 Personal branding is a technique that plays a very important role in the success of any individual. This technique involves a conscious and intentional effort to create or influence public opinion about an individual. Sadly, not everyone knows the ways of the world. That’s where this book comes into play. Brand New Start by Mainak Dhar is a non-fiction book that will help one realize the power of personal branding.  Written with absolute precision and target audience in mind, this book is a self-help book that takes the reader through the process of making oneself ready to achieve success. Neatly structured, this…

Beyond the Blinding SunAuthor: Jayanta G. BorpujariPublisher: Rumour Books IndiaRating: 3/5 Beyond the Blinding Sun seemed like a perfect allegory of the tumultuous journey of the immigrants into the foreign lands. With just enough number of characters, this story about love, betrayal, pretence and revenge is going to leave the readers thirsty for more. I would especially like to mention that the large font and the standard printing quality further urged me to give this book a try! Beyond the Blinding Sun is a story of three people from different walks of life who end up together in Oman. Their quest to eke out a living by burning the midnight…

Yashasvi BharatAuthor: Mohan BhagwatPublisher: Prabhat PrakashanRating: 3.5/5 India is a nation that exemplifies the concept of unity in diversity owing to its culture, heritage, values and rich wisdom. Yashasvi Bharat offers a comprehensive insight into the attributes of our constitution. With a vision of bringing together people from different spheres of life, it is imperative to understand the common goal/agenda of our country. This book highlights some of the very relevant topics like non-violence, place of women in the society, Ambedkar’s vision for India, the spiritual angle that connects us all and the relevance and importance of Hinduism. Before jumping the gun and reaching a conclusion, one should know that…

Moonlight in a DesertAuthor: R. SethumadhaviPublisher: Leadstart Publishing Pvt. Ltd.Rating: 2.5/5 Moonlight in a Desert is a short autobiography that narrates the experiences of the author and aims to inspire all those who dare to dream and have the courage to take a stand for themselves. This story has been divided into 4 parts, each part signifying the stage of life during which a twist/ turning point was there. The journey from school to becoming a successful banker was tumultuous for Ms. Sethumadhavi. Yet she turned the tide in her favour by remaining persistent and determined to snatch success even from the jaws of death. Whether it is the demise…

Love AliveAuthor: Rijuta GuptaPublisher: Redgrab Books Pvt. Ltd.Rating: 3/5 A woman’s silence shouldn’t be taken lightly. It is like a roar that echoes through the empty hearts of those who feel their words are enough to make their heart content. Love Alive is a story of Udita who makes her way through the shackles of life. As life throws a curveball in her path, she doesn’t give up that easily. Instead, she gives her life a second chance and starts afresh. But life is all about those roadblocks that reduce your speed and offers breaks. And that’s what happens in her life too. Love Alive is a decent story about…

Lucid DreamsAuthor: Mehul Krishna KumarPublisher: Rumour BooksRating: 3/5 Love, in all its forms, should be devoid of lust, greed and obligation. Love is pious and if it doesn’t happen naturally, nobody can force this feeling upon anyone. Lucid Dreams touches upon the complexities of love and relationships. The story pans around the two characters Aman and Reshmi and their quest to reach a safe haven, an abode when love and warmth would fill their hearts. But alas! Aman, a distinguished rockstar, gets hit by cupid and falls for Reshmi in the college. Sadly, Reshmi refuses to give his love a chance and moves on with her life. It wouldn’t take…