Love @ Air Force by Gaurav Sharma (Book Review-3.9*/5)!!!

     

      I laid my hands for the first time on a book by Blackbuck Publication but the impression that they have created in my first attempt itself speaks a lot about them. The pricing, quality of publishing and selection is wonderful. Only if they can improve their distribution, they can match up to other leading publishers of India. I am done reading the debut novel of Gaurav Sharma- "Love @ Air Force" which also has the tag line- "A heart is a more sophisticated device than a Sukhoi". The 287-pages thick novel deserves a read because it has a story which you and me would love to read. Everyone writes a love story these days but the one who writes it differently gets the applaud by the readers as well as critics. I, as a reader, would say that this is what I search these days in the love stories written by Indian authors. The debutante has not let anything go wrong with his first attempt. Kudos to him. 

SYNOPSIS:-

The violent romance of the Fighter planes with the clouds in sky… the pulchritudinous Officers walking around arrogantly… the runway with the logo constituted by the concentric tricolored circles in the background… is the spectacle meets our eyes at the feeble mention of the Air Force but there is more about the Air Force besides these…

           

 Coming to the author's writing style, he is master in writing crisp and short sentences. He does not let the story stay at one single moment for a long time. He also assures that you laugh after every 2 pages to keep the interest developed in you. His humor-sense is terrific. Most of his humor has come in describing the expressions of the protagonists and other characters. He knows when to add up the twist in the simple tale. Author has made it sure that people reading the book does not feel that he wasn't from the Air Force background as every detail that he has put about the institution looks so valid and accurate. Generally, author gives all the wonderfulness to the main protagonist of the story, but here, Gaurav Sharma, has given equal parts to every character and no one looks ignored and isolated in the story. I loved the way rank obsession and categorization in the Air Force academy is discussed in the book. Quite frankly. 

            Book flies off really well right from the first page when Sushil's equation with his wife, Divya, is reflected through their conversations. The way Sushil's life is dramatically introduced makes it a fun start. His surprise meeting with a long-lost friend, Shabd is also well-plotted. I also liked how Sushil's past life is described in one chapter. It gives almost all the detailing about the character. Later on, I loved the way Sushil retorts Ojha when he tries to humiliate him after the promotion. Also what Shabd speaks to Sushil's peer at his home in clarification of Sushil's promotion is a wonderful part. Better than all the scenes, I loved the one where philosophy is embedded deeply when Sushil goes to the pan stall for smoking. The lecture that he gets on how to develop himself and his personality at that moment is the HIGH POINT of the book. The way, post-climax(Yes, I would call it this :-)) is written shows the X-factor that Gaurav Sharma has in his story-telling style.

          What I didn't like was the meeting with Soumya of Sushil and Shabd. I was expecting something out of the world there. Yes, I agree that author has tried to keep it realistic but still, like a typical Indian audience, I expect something bombastic. Haha! Also, I didn't like the repetition of same conversation regarding Soumya between Sushil and Shabd every now and then. I also felt that more humor could have been added by utilizing the characters of children in the book but alas, author haven't made children one of the main characters of the main plot. Rest, I would say this book is a sibling of movies like Jaanemann and Dhadkan. :-) Yes! I would give this a well-deserving 3.9/5. You can surely read it for once, you'll enjoy it.

 Thanks.

 ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!!

Two Winters and 365 days by Anuradha Prasad (Book Review- 3.75*/5)!!!

       

  Partridge publication is not known to many of us but I would like to inform you that it's a Penguin Random House Company, the one that the two major publishing house have collaborated and created for the authors who want to publish themselves. It's a self-publishing firm for the authors who believe in getting their book published immediately without going through the whole process of checking and evaluating. Whenever I have picked up a book by Partridge, I have never been disappointed and today, my 3rd experience with them also ends up with a smile. I am just done reading "Two Winters and 365 days" by the debutant- Anuradha Prasad. The only problem that I find with the publishers are:- 1. Cover page is quite hard. 2. The publishing style of book makes it look like a school's textbook. 3. Font isn't attractive. Now let's move forward towards author's work. :-)

SYNOPSIS:-

         When Ananya's life fell apart and crumpled at a young age she was helpless with the sole intention of supporting her family. she takes up editing an equally crumbling lifestyle magazine After tea not knowing what lay ahead thus Ananyas journey into the mad mad world of the media begins. Though her journey as a professional is replete with adventure, thrill and risks she starts enjoying it, as fate could not steal away her innate talent and an eye for perfection. But as they say in the beautiful Bollywood city of Mumbai anything is possible! A die hard professional and a construction magnate Vicky Arora falls hopelessly in love with simple Ananya. Though Vicky feels most happy and himself with her does she feel the same? Was she ready to look at love again in the eye? Or was life playing a double game with her? Will she fall this time never to get up? It is a thrilling story of a journey replete with adventure, hope, romance and of self discovery.

About the Author:-

          Anuradha Prasad has a doctorate in English Literature from Mumbai University. She is an artist, a feature writer, and a journalist. She writes on invitation regularly. She loves blogging, counselling, observing nature, traveling, music, movies, Bollywood and spending time with her family and friends. She lives in Mumbai with her family. 

           Coming to the writing style of the authoress, she has an amazing skill that touches chord with the readers. She uses easy sentences to convey her story to the audience. The way she has made us understand the emotions of a woman represents the talent she possesses. Considering her biography in the book, I thought that she may have written something very extra-ordinary in terms of language but I got little disappointed here. She has written like any other author available in every nooks and corners of India these days. I was expecting little more. Story wise, she has a maturity in story-making and telling. Whenever I read a book written by female writer, I expect to understand women a little better after finishing the book and with Two Winters and 365 Days, I have. :-)

           Coming to the story, right from the first page, authoress have made it sure that story doesn't gets stagnant at any point of time. It's moving with every sentence, page and chapter. Book is divided into different seasons and each has its own property. Read the book to know how each season consists its own specialty in terms of story. :-) Book is very fast-pace. I loved the character of Amanda initially when she asks Ananya to come for interviews. The lack of confidence that is been mentioned of Ananya's makes you excited to read further whether she makes it or not. Later on, during the interview, as soon as she becomes furious while speaking, I jumped off my bed because the sudden change in her characterization excited and astonished me. The chapter where for the first time its mentioned hoe she makes big in the field is also an exciting read. The mother-daughter relationship is wonderfully described in the book which makes it an emotional read too. Vicky's character is charming enough to entertain you throughout.

             Coming to the drawbacks, as I have already mentioned that I was expecting more from the authoress in terms of language reading her bio-data. I didn't like the speech and the whole award ceremony details that is been given in the pre-climax up to the climax. It wasn't as good as it could have been. I felt that the flashback of Ananya's life with Rahul was missing in the story because if it could have been included, book could have reached 1 or 2 level higher from where it already is. Authoress have just cut the past life of hers and only mentioned the story right from the day the book has started with. In all, I would say that a fine book which can be surely read. An emotional, lovely, serene and soft book. I will give it 3.75/5. Surely readable. 

 Thanks.

 ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!!

The Justified Sin by Harpreet Makkar (Book Review)!!!

     

     Author's Empire is publishing lots of book these days which is compelling readers to pick it up because it gives an impression of one of the major publishing house in the commercial fiction genre. Though their books are average according to my taste, I still pick their new books because the way they represent it through cover pages, synopsis and online promotions. It gives you a confidence of an amazing read. I havent found any epic book still by them but I am positive that I will, very soon. I just finished reading The Justified Sin by another debutant, Harpreet Makkar. The title name is amazing which attracted me towards the book. Once again, the quality of publishing is retained by the publisher. 

SYNOPSIS:-

What do you call it when three beautiful women come in your life, but you are still single? What if they all, at some point, tried to entice you but you feel like committing suicide because of loneliness? What do you call it when you made no mistake but still, you feel guilty as sin? Jay had a common life until Saloni, Prachi and Vineeta came in his life and changed everything. At times, he avoided the love that knocked at his door and when he actually needed it, the same love kicked him. He betrayed, He got betrayed, He rejected, He got rejected. From being shot in the back by Prachis father to getting intimate with Vineeta under the influence of alcohol, his life was as spicy as those masala Bollywood movies. He was getting used to his life, until one night, he decides to jump off a building and end everything.

        Coming to the author, I would say that he has good writing skill which makes it easy for readers to understand whatever he is trying to convey. I am also happy that he didn't compromise over editing the story which has given an accurate direction to the flow of it. He have not done anything to pretend himself as an intellectual or vocabulary master. He has kept it straight that he's just telling a story which does not need complex sentences and terrific usage of words. I didn't like the story as such because it has been a long time since people are writing books which tells how the protagonist keeps falling in love yet again and again. The three small affairs that are mentioned in 158 pages novel makes it harder to create any impact and impression on the reader's mind for any of the affairs. I would still rate the first affair with Saloni as the best described but the way other two love affairs are cut short irritated me. It would have been no problem if the book would have extended to another 100 pages or so but not letting the story speak openly kills the excitement that the reader can experience.

             I would like to compare The Justified Sin with Three Times Loser by Akash Verma as both are written on the same lines. But Three Times Loser was brilliantly written giving importance to each of the three girls who came in the protagonist's life. Here, the central theme itself loses its purpose as nothing is well defined once the first story ends. There's no problem in writing a love story but if there is no philosophy or message attached to it or say, amazing lines/quotes that stay with you for a long time, then there's no meaning because a love story is everyone's own life's story; no one will spend 3-6 hours in reading the same thing. I would only suggest the author to try something differently the next time he decides to script a book. For now, just 1.5 stars that I can give to this very book. 

 Thanks.

 ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!!