Life Know-How by Viswanatha Reddy Thalakola (Book Review- 3.25*/5) !!!

The genre that is my most favorite is self-help after auto-biographies. And whenever I get a chance to read any such book, I ensure that I get my hands upon them. But the latest one that I have read was in the format of e-book; the name of the book is “Life Know-How”. The book also has the tagline which says, “A Quick Guide with Straight to the Point Advice to Deal with Life Issues and Live an Empowered Life”. The book is just of 89 pages written by the author, Viswanatha Reddy Thalakola, and can be finished in just one sitting. I managed to complete in during my office traveling in Mumbai locals within 1.5 hours. This book is a perfect companion if you are traveling or sitting alone in your office without any work.

The author has written this book very intellectually with nicely editing the contents and being specific to the points that he wants to share with the readers to deal with certain issues that he has chosen to talk about in his debut work. The book consists of 34 chapters where each of them speaks about one unique issue divided into different categorizations such as “solving your problems”, “managing interpersonal relations”, “dealing with work”, “coping with negative things”, fulfilling your aspirations” and “handling other important matters”. I liked the various topics on which the author has spoken in this book. Under each chapter, there are many bulleted points which tells about the kind of research the author has gone through to have such refined solutions for each problem that we face in our day to day life.

This book is written as quick guide as referred in the tagline too but talking about the drawbacks, I missed the detailed solution for few points where author could have given real life examples or case studies too. Except this, there is nothing that I felt as missing in this book considering it as a quick guide that can be referred at any time. I rate this book 3.25* out of 5 and wish to see author writing a detailed self-help book too.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA!!! 

Inkredia - Luwan of Brida by Sarang Mahajan (Book Review- 4*/5) !!!

The book related to fantasy world does not excite me much as I have not been a very good person with imaginations hence I fail to understand lot of things that are being described in such books. Till date, even after reading 500+ books, I have yet not picked up Harry Potter series just for the sole reason that the book belongs to the fantasy genre. But still there are few books belonging to the fantasy genre which have been rated quite high from my side just because they made it possible for me to feel that I am part of their world. Similarly, another book that has kept me busy this weekend in its world is “Inkredia -  Luwan of Brida” which also has the tagline that says “Danger looms tall. Mystery runs deep.” The book is written by the author, Sarang Mahajan.

Before proceeding with the review, let me clarify few words related to the title of the book that you have read above which might have confused you as none of the words are understandable. Inkredia here is the name of a very vast region. Brida is a small area in the region. Luwan is the name of the protagonist around whom the whole story revolves. The world created in this book is truly fantasizing. The way author has described things in details and makes sure that the reader feels himself intrigued in the world is commendable. Right from the first page, the narration is made in such a way that you cannot keep the book aside but read it in one go. The book is around 400 pages which took me two days to complete it with naturally multiple breaks due to weekend but whenever I was not reading the book, I was thinking about the protagonist and his elder sister about what would have happened to them. Such is the roller-coaster experience of reading this book.

Unfortunately, this book still does not have a definite ending as it has more 3 parts to come. The description of assassins as a group of enemy is done very vividly. The characterization even in a book like this is done so emotionally and genuinely that you can feel for the characters and sympathize with them. The twists and turns come at the right time to always keep you thrilled throughout the journey of the story.

Talking about the drawbacks, the only thing that comes to my mind is that the book could have been shorter by 50-60 pages as few segments are over-described which also makes the reader irritated and wants to skip lines in between. Otherwise, this book is a journey that you will keep fantasizing for a long time. I give this book 4 star out of 5.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA!!! 

Call Me Saaya by Zoe M (Book Review: 3.5*/5) !!!

I am not a fan of books which are published only as e-books and do not have paperback version of them because you always must experience them digitally and can never hold them or get your hands upon them while cleaning your shelves and flashing back into the memories you had about the book. But whenever a book has a great content, despite it being an e-book, it ends up staying in my memory more than many paperbacks that I have read in last one decade. The recent book that I have just finished while getting back from office in local train on my big screen mobile is debutante, Zoe M’s “Call Me Saaya”.

When I had first read the name of this book, I had taken it up as some horror stuff because the word “Saaya” is most prominently used in such references only. But this book is more based upon romance genre and family drama. While reading the book, I regularly felt as if I am reading some script of a Bollywood movie which has every masala in it which ensures that the couple are falling in love with each other and then getting away and again coming together again to fall apart. And then in climax multiple dramas happening and, in the end, something happens which makes you clap, whistle alongwith feeling emotional about the turmoil the characters have gone to experience and be with each other. Call Me Saaya is exactly this stuff.

The book is based in Rajasthan and authoress ensures that she keeps the touch of the same. Basically, in the first half of the book when the couple are going places together, the way localities is described is wonderful. The characterization is so wonderfully done in the story that you can relate with each of the characters and understand their mindset. Even the characters like Rana Singh who enters in the last quarter of the book leaves their mark. Shamsher and Saaya are very nicely portrayed as two different personalities completely. The twist and turns that come in the end of the first half of the book is a magical moment for the readers which changes the complete pace of the book. And after that, the book becomes more interesting as you want to know what happens with the characters and will they forgive each other.

Talking about the drawbacks, the USP of this book is the dramatical representation of scenes which sounds like a scene directly out from Bollywood movie. But there are few scenes which are too overdone and starts becoming irritating after a point of time. The book becomes quite predictable in the 2^nd half and it needed little twists and turns even there. Even the other relationship portrayal of Shamsher that has been included in the 2^nd half could have been kept as suspense even for the readers because revealing the secret to the readers does not make it any exciting thereafter.

Overall, the book took me some 4.5 hours to finish and is a great rollercoaster ride. I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA!!!