I Caught Her Young by Major Upendra Dwivedi!!!

             Completed yet another book this month but I am still unhappy. This is not how I usually work when it comes to reading books. My speed has slowed down. I am sure that someone is working Black Magic over me. :-) Whatever, let's talk about the book now. The name of the 222-pages book is "I caught her young" which also has the tagline of "Tale of a Chocolate Cream Soldier". It is written by the debutante author- Major Upendra Dwivedi who is a serving Indian Army Officer. He is an alumnus of the prestigious Sainik School Rewa (Madhya Pradesh). He got trained at one of its kind military academies; the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He has been a bright student and qualified for National Talent Search Examination, Mathematics Olympiad and numerous other competitive Exams. He continues his track-record by achieving podium finishes in all the Army courses he has undergone till date. He is an extensively travelled, a keen observer of life around and believes in cherishing each and every moment of life. He is an avid reader and has penchant for writing as well. He has written many short stories which got published in various Newspapers and magazines.

               The SYNOPSIS of the book says: MANU, a teenager, grows to be a dashing Indian Army Officer, CAPTAIN ABHIMANYU. Each day at Sainik School Rewa (a renowned boarding school), National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun infuse in him a full of life attitude and amazing wit. But, was he equally confident and flamboyant as a child? To overcome his childhood fear of dealing with the fairer sex, he develops a science, CHICKOLOGY, with a set of well defined rules. "Chickology is a science that deals with all aspects of Chick behaviour, ways of attaining their propinquity leading to intimacy and also to drift apart, if need be." 

And ......... his heart skips a beat..many a times. 

LAILA, a popular party chick of Goa.

DIMPLE, a 17 years old Girl Next Door.

AARAGYA, a high headed alumni of Air Hostess Academy, Dehradun. 

Is he a confident flirt or a passionate lover? 

Are Army cadets any different from other youngsters? 

Are they stone hearted or humane? 

Can you hold yourself back from falling in love with defiantly close to real life story of the chocolate cream soldier called CAPTAIN ABHIMANYU? 

              "I caught her young" could have been many times better than the way it has been written. I just didn't get the exact concept of the book. The kind of biography and narration skills the author has, I was expecting a magic from him but unfortunately, I am been let down. I was expecting to know about the life of a soldier and how he struggles at the border yet has a heart of gold and love. I wanted to know how he meets his girl and treats her in a very different way as he has a big heart which is ready to give heart even to the nation. I wanted to know how he sacrifices one of his two lives for love. But what I got to read was the tale of a yet-another-college-boy kind of love story that I keep reading in every chick-lit that releases now and then. Even with chick-lit, magic can be written as I have reviewed in some of my previous book reviews but this one is just another romance fiction novel including Chickology. 

            Though there are some good parts that I would like to point out here- The initial pages is wonderful as author started on a good note by telling about a life of a soldier. Later, when Manu meets Dimple, that's another sweet part of the book. Then both of them getting caught by their parents later on is another part that made me worry yet laugh the way they get caught. The climax is another sweet part which thankfully has not been ended by giving a sad ending and thus ruining the book more. 

            To my dismay, even the cover page of the book is not perfectly made. The structure of the soldier and the shadow of the girl coming out of his body is stretched because of bad pixels. Something has not worked for this book correctly. As per my knowledge, Mahaveer Publisher never let any of their book look such under-ordinary but I don't know what happened with this one. Either it is been published in hurry or there has been some distortion in communication. I will give the book 2.5/5. It is for the target audience- 16-22 age group. 

 Thanks.

 ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU

Life is always aimless unless you love it by Ratnadip Acharya!!!

             Some books take a long time to be read. This does not happen with me usually but this time I have been under the scanner of many things happening all around me where I have been the sole person carrying everything. Hence this part of life slowed down. With my reading speed, I read 3 books of 250 pages in a day while this 216 pages book took 8 days. Happens! This is just another book by Srishti Publications that I ended up reading. It is always fun to read Srishti books as I am used to their cover pages, page quality, fonts, line spacing, printing style etc. I just love reading them because I feel as if I have already read the book. This time I read "Life is always aimless" which also has the tag line "Unless you love it". The debutante author of the book is Ratnadip Acharya who is a well-trained street magician and has performed street magic at many parts of the country. Graduated from NIT, Jamshedpur as a electrical engineer Ratnadip stays in Mumbai. He loves travelling and his fa- vourite destination is the Himalaya and its foothills where he has spent many days of his life. Over the years he learnt many esoteric spiritual practices which are very close to his heart. Writing fiction is his passion for many years. He had contributed many inspiring write ups in different collections of chicken soup for the soul. His short stories were appreciated by many readers in India and abroad.

            The synopsis of the book says: Do we you really know how much courage is required to listen to our own heart? 

Meet Akash, an young engineer, who dreams of becoming a writer. But all his works meet with is rejection from publisher. Will he ever be rewarded for listening to his heart? 

Smitten by wanderlust, adventurous Sandip does not care much about career, marriage or making a family. How will life treat him for listening to his heart? 

Possessor of a charming personality, Chirag, has a deep perchant for women. But deep down the motherless Chirag is temibly lonely. What is in store for this vulnerable young man? 

Maria Fernandez is a lonely and a less-than- looking young girl who firmly believes that possossing a tender heart is enough to make her world beautiful. Will ruthless life shatter her belief? 

As their life got seamlessly inter-wined with many others they realized that Life is Always Aimless .... Unless You Love it. 

               Coming to the author, I would say Ratnadip Acharya is someone whom you can expect to write good philosophical books. The way he has handled the title of the book throughout his story is something that should be commended. Though I feel that much more could have been done with the book but whatever is been done is no less than a good book. I love reading such stuffs as it lets us know that some decisions are not on our choices but what life chooses for us. And it gives confidence and relief to lead the future life. I hope author keeps writing such work always as its better than any love story that are been written under the same Publication house with which he is been published. 

               The initial pages of the book are slow. It didn't create any enthusiasm in me to carry forward but once when the book reached its medieval, the story started progressing. The trauma of the characters were beautifully scripted and made us feel the dilemma they are in. Some parts of the book such as favoring the old woman, the story of a poor boy in the pre-climax of the book etc. are the USPs of the book. Because such parts did make me feel about how one can lead life as. The character of Maria shows how one knows that he/she cannot achieve what he/she wants to but still keeps all the hope alive. Her character shows the confidence that one needs to have in spite of disbelief. Akash's character shows as to how one needs to keep trying in spite of rejection and failure. Chirag's character tells the pain one has when he is inexperienced with the love of a mother. And in quest to that, the way he leads his life is another thought-provoking part. Sandip's character, unfortunately, didn't make me much happy. All credit goes to the character of Maria. 

             As I said, the drawback of the book is its slow start and lack of humour. Even when the book is written on a serious topic, author should have inserted some humour. He kept the book too focused on the subject. Though the book is lovable in some parts of it but some parts are speed breaker to the story. In a book of 216 pages, I don't expect such breakers. Else, I would say that the book is based on characters. I will not say that it is a very good book but I won't even say that miss it. You can give it a chance. Hence, 3/5 ratings. I would love to read more philosophical works by Ratnadip Acharya.

 Thanks.

 ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU

The Secret Wish List by Preeti Shenoy!!!

             Some times, time does not favour and you get stuck in reading a book that could have got completed in just 3-4 hours. This book was bought for my friend to gift it to her on Birth day but later I decided to keep it for myself. "The Secret Wish List"- A Book of 260 pages published by "Westland Publishers". The authoress Preeti Shenoy who has written yet another amazing story needs no introduction. But there's something very funny and amusing about her journey as a writer is the shuffling of Publishers every time she comes up with a new book. Her first book was with Srishti Publications, then with Random House India and finally, this one with Westland Publication. Haha! 

              Coming to the story of "The Secret Wish List"- At sixteen, Diksha like any girl her age, finds her life revolving around school, boys and endless hours of fun with her best friend. But one day, all that changes. What starts as an innocent crush explodes into something far beyond her control. Eighteen years later, she finds herself at the crossroads of life. Urged by a twist of events, a wish list is born. But can a wish list help her piece back her life together? Will she succumb to the tangled mess of an extramarital relationship? The Secret Wish List is a captivating, engrossing, racy tale about following your heart, chasing your dreams and the meaning of friendship. To know more, read the book. 

             Coming to the author, there's no doubt that Preeti Shenoy is the best female author in the genre in which she writes. Every time she drafts a story, it comes up with a message and lots of learning. A girl/married woman reading it will always find a way out of her problems and a boy/husband reading it will always learn to respect women. And she does it with an entertaining manner rather than keeping the story too intense or up-to-the-point. She knows what to put where in the book which directly touches the heart of the readers. As the authoress herself is a married woman, she understands the plight of married women and hence, they would love reading her books more than anyone else. But what's interesting is that even youths like me loves reading her book. It does not have any age barrier. But I would like to demand Preeti Shenoy to write a happy married life of a woman in her next book as she is getting stereotyped as "one who writes only depressing tales of married women".

             Coming to the good parts of book according to me- Initially, when the book begins, the way she keeps on shuffling between both the periods of story is too interesting. The school life of Diksha isn't kept too cheesy like other authors. Even that's interesting to read. Then her equation with Sandeep, her husband is described perfectly. I was able to imagine each and every sequence as it seems to be real and not a single part seems to be filmy and exaggerated. Her son, Abhay is my favorite character in the book. I just loved reading his conversations with his parents. I want my kid to be like him. :-) The scene when she meets Vibha and the concept of Wish List is revealed in the book is a perfect part. Even I felt that there should be something that every married person should make to keep himself/herself aspiring and motivated. And once her childhood friends come back in her life, the real fun in the story starts. As we sympathize with the protagonist, we start loving the way she breaks all the confinements and does what she always wants to. 

             All the moments in the book is worth appraising. But I won't talk about them as many Spoilers might come out and a Review looks nice when its short. The only problem that I find is the one I mentioned above- Too depressing story. Hence, I would ask authoress to please write something cheery next time. I would love to read an opposite version from you. :-) I would rate- 4/5. Yes, get the book. And in the end, Cover Designer of this book should be felicitated with something special. What an incredible work by him/her. 

 Thanks.

  ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU