Ullu Bhai Ki Jagmagati Barat by Swati Sinha (Book Review: 4.25*/5) !!!

2131st BLOG POST

36^th Book of 2024

Well, and finally I complete my reading target of 36 books by reading almost 22 books in last 2.5 months. After an unbelievable reading marathon, I chose to read Sonalika Publication’s Ullu Bhai Ki Jagmagati Barat which is a short Hindi story book for kids. This year I have read many books from their publications house which are meant for kids and I am jealous of the fact that I didn’t get such story books in my childhood to read.

 

This book is written by Swati Sinha with a great support from the illustrator, Sachi Shukla. Her illustrations and graphics bring life to the story. This book is perfectly designed for kids who have just started reading properly from the year of 5 and above. Swati Sinha’s story is about the King Lion announcing the marriage of an Owl which rejoices everyone. But it comes with a challenge wherein the owl’s marriage shall be performed during night when it becomes difficult to travel. A Small mongoose then comes up with an idea which helps them beat this challenge.

 

Any story meant for kids is incomplete if it doesn’t come up with a moral. Swati takes extreme care about this and involves a lot of lessons in this short story. It teaches about the teamwork as to how everyone can sit together and come to a decision. It also signifies the importance of considering everyone’s intelligence equal and allowing everyone to speak.

 

It reflects upon how even the smallest of insects can also help the whole group of animals in the jungle for which even the King Lion didn’t have any solution. Author emphasizes on friendship and how it helps everyone in the process.

 

The book further ends with few DIY exercises for children which will push their creativity. Overall, this is a good initiative Sonalika CSR group to spread knowledge among young kids and develop them into better and compassionate human beings. I give this book 4.25 stars out of 5.

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The Heart of Understanding by Thich Nhat Hanh (Book Review: 4.5*/5) !!!

  

35^th Book of 2024

Well, there’s a tendency I have observed in my reading marathon where I always start and end my year with either spiritual or self-help books. And this is definitely not planned but a pattern that I have observed. After reading Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, I picked up “The Heart of Understanding” written by Thich Nhat Hanh today and completed it within two hours with slow and mindful reading. This book by Aleph publication also comes up with a tagline that says “Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy and Liberation”.

 

The book starts with a foreword by Shantum Seth who tells how he got intrigued by Buddha’s teachings and went through trainings like Vipassana etc. after which the teachings of Thich started inspiring him. The foreword gives the book a good start as you are first taken into confidence before starting with the real content. Then there’s a second foreword as well written by Peter Levitt. Here he introduces us with Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra which is one of the Buddhist teachings through which you can discover a way for peace to be realized. This Sutra is basically what this book is all about.

 

As I have myself been to Vipassana meditation recourse for 11 days, I was able to relate with the concepts being discussed in the book. The chapter starts with making us understand how all of us are tied together as Interbeing. None of us can survive without each other. Author helps us understand it with a great example of paper as to how a paper can’t exist without wood, cloud, water, sunshine, soil, time, space, the earth, the river, the heat etc. It gives immense clarity behind the logic that we have the whole Universe within us as well as being a part of the whole Universe as well.

 

Further, author explores the concept of emptiness and breaks down the concept of duality for us. It makes us comprehend how every positive thing exist because of non-positive elements and vice-versa. It realizes us of the fact that when we get the food, it is because someone else is not able to. That makes us understand the term called “Inter-are” where all of us are present because of someone’s absence.

 

The concepts are definitely new and gives the Buddhist vibes throughout. It helps us understand the law of nature and appreciate everything- good or bad – because the beauty of life is such. It also explores the fact that just life and death are not our starting and ending point but we continue even before and after that. It helps us understand that just as wave is water and water is wave, similarly we are just a wave which shall keep on occurring and dissolving.

 

Overall, the book is full of spiritual wisdom which is enjoyed by someone like me who has always believed in it. It ends with the topic on meditation and chanting as well. I never read anything by Thich Nhat Hanh before but after this, I am sure I am going to explore more of his writings and learnings. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5.

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The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran (Book Review: 4.5*/5) !!!

  

34^th Book of 2024

It’s very rare when people gift me book or even exchange books for that matter. I have mostly been dependent on my own when it comes to books. Incidentally, someone gifted me a book when I met them on this Christmas and I ended up even finishing it today as soon as weekend began. The book is none other than the popular Kahlil Gibran’s most popular book called “The Prophet”. The book was originally written in Arabic which has been translated into many languages. Obviously, I read the one in English.

 

The book is a very short read which you can easily complete within an hour or two. More than its quantity, what matters is the quality it reflects. This is not just a one-time read but something you can read every now and then. Every time, you will find something new which you must have missed in your previous reads. Similarly, you’ll find new meanings to the same text with each read. Such is the philosophical outlook of this man, Kahlil Gibran!

 

The book seems like a blend of spirituality, philosophy, poetry, prose, wisdom etc. Though a prophet talks with the people of Orphalese in this book, I felt as if a soul talks in a similar fashion with our mind when we get enlightened or reach the Kundalini stage which all of us aspire for. There are few sentences which aren’t distinct as many authors or poets have spoken the same facts of life in different words but there are few of them which Kahlil has said a century ago but is yet so defining and transformative.

 

All the chapters are short but covers the philosophical and spiritual aspects on the topics such as love, marriage, children, giving, joy/sorrow, buying/selling, reason/passion, pain, reaching, friendship, talking, time, prayer, beauty, religion, death etc. I wish if I could read a detailed explanation to all of these which would help us explore more of Kahlil’s insights towards these social and internal issues.

 

This book is definitely difficult to understand in few sections but wherever it engages you, it teaches you something you didn’t know before. Even though it has been written a century ago, the ideology is very profound and modern which can be applied even in modern times. This is what makes this book special for being relevant even after the changes a human psyche has gone through.

 

Overall, I give this book 4.5* out of 5.

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Murder in the City by Mayabhushan Nagvenkar (Book Review: 4*/5)!!!

  

33^rd Book of 2024

I have been reading murder mysteries this year but never thought that by the end of the year, I would also get a chance upon reading the real murder tales. I just completed reading Mayabhushan Nagvenkar’s “Murder in the City” which is published by Rupa Publications in around 192 pages. The book covers deadly crimes and murder from eight metropolitan cities of India. I liked the way this book has been narrated as author focuses upon those cases wherein the murder had relation with the city or the way city’s mindset got transformed after the murder case.

 

Author has deep-dived into the mindset of the perpetrators who enforced these crimes and tries to decode the human psychology with us. As a reader, it’s really challenging to read few scenes where the murder has been performed maniacally or a human’s body has been exploited violently. All these murder stories are based before 1990s and that’s where it becomes an exploration. Most of us are not aware of such big crimes which has been a part of its cities’ timeline defining them. Hence, reading these events are an eye-opener.

 

As the author has chosen cities as the theme of his book, he has very nicely described and explained all the cities and its certain locales. As I belong to Mumbai, I was able to relate a lot with the way South Mumbai has been represented. Similarly, I was able to enjoy the descriptions of other cities as well. The aesthetics are nicely visualized. Similarly, author has written all these real-events as short stories hence while reading, I would forget a lot many times that I am reading a non-fiction story. Mayabhushan has described all the characters, their families and their history quite vividly that it appears to be a story than reality.

 

There are few stories that I would like to mention below that really moved me:

The 2nd story about the death in Godrej family was such a nostalgic read as all of us are aware about d clock tower figure and charm of South Mumbai. The whole proceeding from molestation to murder to suicide is just mindboggling. The closing lines on Aredeshir on how he became the biggest brand of locks is just goosebumpy.

The story of Billa and Ranga was such a horrific tale which happened around d same time as Indira Gandhi’s assassination where they kidnapped two children of an Indian navy officer and killed them brutally. The same person who hung Gandhi’s killer hanged both these criminals as well.

The Bangalore story where a rich woman leaves her family for a conman just because of his trust of giving her a baby son and in return gets all her property and eventually kills her tells how desire and superstition can target anyone- rich, poor or middle-class.

 

Jakkal’s story of moving to different towns of Maharashtra from Pune to Kolhapur to other cities is just chilling. How he targeted one murder after another just to feel empowered tells a lot about destructive mindset that a person gets into after doing one wrong act.

 

Overall, this is a very unique book and could be a cult or classic after years to go. Mayabhushan’s theming and storytelling skills make this book unforgettable and recommendable. I give this book 4 star out of 5.

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Badge and the Bullet: Memoirs of a Super Cop by Rajesh Pandey/Rakesh Goswami (Book Review: 4.25*/5) !!!

 

32^nd Book of 2024

 

Every time we see a man in uniform, we wish to understand how they lead their life and what are their day-to-day activities at their workplace. It is just that we as normal citizens are intimidated by their power and don’t develop courage to go up and speak with them. Books, again, becomes a great medium for them to tell their lives to us and for us to consume and understand them better. I read 2^nd book in row which is written by a cop about their work-life and I am in a different thought process altogether after the experience.

 

I read “Badge and the Bullet” written by Rajesh Pandey who retired as IG of Bareilly Range in May 2022. He has been a part of nearly 70 police encounters and has been one among the founding members of the elite UP STF – Special Task Force. The book has also been co-written with a journalist, Rakesh Goswami, who has always been fascinated by crime reporting. This 170-pages book published by Rupa Publications is an adventurous one-sitting read as I thoroughly enjoyed reading it completely on a Sunday.

 

As a memoir, the book has been very well edited by keeping it short and crisp where the Cop tries to highlight only the main events of his life by giving us insights upon the kind of cases he was dealing with and the background of all those events which made them such big crimes. He touches base on various incidents such as kidnapping cartel in his initial posting, La Martiniere Murder, Raj Bhavan siege, dacoits tales, the Kota kidnapping case, Sanjarpur ecosystem and lastly the fight against ceasing fake currencies.

 

He keeps his chapters short yet manages to help us understand the whole process of nabbing the criminals. He has very intelligently spoken about the governments as well who were in power during certain events. He manages to let us know which of the Chief Ministers empowered him whereas few phases where he felt overpowered by the Government.

 

There’s a chapter where he tells how he was transferred from one place to another for almost six times within ten months itself. The reason for which has been commitment towards resolving a case which a minister wanted to be stopped right at the moment. He tells about how his personal life would get impacted due to the transfers as the children have to change their schools as well.

 

Author helps us understand the world of small gangs which existed few decades ago and the way police benefitted from the tips they got from the informers or intelligence department. He also tells how STF got formed and how he led one of their initial missions and kept on contributing for the same. I liked the author’s narration where he doesn’t boast about himself much but talks about the crime and the way police got the hold upon them. Even though it’s a memoir but the way the author-duo handled it needs to be appreciated. Overall, I would recommend IPS aspirants and others who would like to know about the real life of policemen read this book. I give it 4.25 stars out of 5.

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Did I Really Do All This? by Vijay Raman (Book Review: 4.5*/5) !!!

  

31^st Book of 2024

I am almost in the last leg of completing my reading challenge of 36 which is making me pick up some interesting books before I take a break of a week or two at the end of this year. This made me pick up a non-fiction this time named “Did I Really Do All This?” written by Late. Vijay Raman. The book published by Rupa Publications in around 250-pages comes with a tagline “Memoirs of a gentleman cop who dared to be different”. The author who lived a life being a cop serving the nation lost his life in the last phases of writing this book. The rest of the book was completed by his wife, Veena Raman, who has ensured that we don’t feel the difference at all while reading.

 

From the outside, we view all the policemen just as security personnels walking on the streets in their uniform. Very rarely do we get a chance to talk with them and understand how challenging their life could be. Books are a great medium for us to read about them and learn what goes behind the scenes in keeping us safe and crimes in check. It is wonderful initiative of people like Vijay Raman who are coming forward and reiterating their life in such forms for us to get familiar with their tough working lifestyle.

 

The book starts with his initial days where he tries to get into IAS service but lands up into IPS. His resolution to get his medical test clear by restricting his salt intake talks about his commitment right from the formative years. Vijay Raman’s narration style is very friendly and while reading you can feel a very senior retired person telling you all about himself to read between the lines and learn the said and unsaid life lessons from it.

 

This book wouldn’t have been interesting if Vijay would have been associated only with police functioning of a similar nature or at the same location. What makes his journey and this book incredible and memorable are the different kind of challenges he took in his tenure. Right from encountering a long wanted Paan Singh Tomar, making other harmful and dangerous dacoits like Phoolan Devi, Malkhan Singh etc. surrender, breaking Guinness world record of driving maximum kilometers in minimum duration, protecting four different Prime Ministers being in their first circle of security force, being deployed near the location of Bhopal Gas tragedy, making the Indian border secure by installing wall and wires, Vyapam case, how he ensured that Ghazi Baba, the mastermind behind 2001 parliament attack was killed etc. – all these different tasks associated with one Supercop is hard to believe and amazing to read.

 

Vijay has told all these stories in the right proportion by directly moving to the next story before the one starts boring the readers. I liked how he didn’t let emotions get into him and get biased with one tale over others. The chapter on his driving adventure which made him register his name in Guinness world record is a very uniquely written chapter where you will enjoy it more like a fiction story. Vijay has ensured that he adds humour as well wherever required which keeps the mood relaxed despite reading such stressful encounters of the author.

 

It's obvious for anyone to get a bit obsessed with themselves after achieving so many fates but it shows quite often in Vijay’s writing. He has kept self-admiration going on in almost every 3^rd page which can annoy some readers. This is evident from the title and tagline of the book itself. It is filled with self-appreciation. Secondly, I wished author could have talked about his family life and members in details as well. He just introduces his family and doesn’t discuss about them at all. In the first half, there are still few sections where he talks about his communication with his wife through letters or calls etc. but nothing after that.

 

There are fillers in between where Veena Raman has also scribbled few words for her husband or told some incidents from her perspective. It was a great fun reading her version as well. The photographs featured in between the chapters make us explore Vijay Raman a bit more closely and understand how he looked or aged during the particular milestone of his life. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. I give it 4.5 stars out of 5.

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Quills: The Hungry Little Porcupine by Shibani Alter (Book Review: 4*/5) !!!

  

30^th Book of 2024

After reading 3 books back-to-back by Stephen Alter, I finally got a chance to pick up the book written by his daughter, Shibani Alter was well. The name of the book is “Quills: The Hungry Little Porcupine” which is published by Aleph in around 30-pages. The book has almost the same aesthetics as the books written by Stephen in the same section for Aleph publications. The illustrations adding up to the story are created by Shruti Hemani.

 

Shibani has narrated this story in a very simple flow wherein the same loop repeats as the group of animal friends keeps getting increased one by one. Starting with a porcupine who has left his home in search of food gets scared every time he feels leopard is around him and ends up meeting one of his friends. The set of animals introduced in the story are pig, money, mongoose and goat.

 

The authoress has ensured that she helps the young readers understand the nature of each of the animal and their different skillsets using which they move to the distinct places for survival. Similarly, they bring back different kinds of food produced of different type of plants and lands. She has shown intelligence and presence of mind while scripting the story. The main feature of porcupine which is its quills which hides one of its important features that it can use to protect against harmful animals is revealed in the climax.

 

Overall, this is a well written simple story which the young readers would love to read repeatedly and share with their friends. I give this book 4 stars out of 5.

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If You Were a Tiger Cub by Stephen Alter (Book Review: 4.5*/5) !!!

  

29^th Book of 2024

Stephen Alter is one of the very matured authors who know how to infuse the adult-based philosophies in a children book without making it difficult to understand. This is the 3^rd children book I had read by him in just 2 days and I must say with each book I could sense his intention while creating the stories. This time I read “If you were a Tiger Cub” which has been published by Aleph in 30-pages. The book also consists of illustrations created by Mohit Suneja.

 

In If You Were a Tiger Cub, the author takes readers on an enchanting journey through the vibrant Indian jungle, where each creature is brought to life with vivid detail and unique traits. A playful tiger cub sets off on an adventurous exploration, encountering the jungle's diverse inhabitants. A sleek leopard moves silently through the undergrowth, while a hornbill perches high among the branches of a fig tree. Beyond a screen of bamboo, the majestic elephant makes a quiet yet commanding appearance.

 

The sharp call of a sambar deer serves as a sudden warning, urging careful observation—its swift departure reminds readers of its wariness. In a dimly lit cave, a swirling cluster of bats dangles from the ceiling, and a shaggy, fearsome sloth bear arrives, its powerful claws on display. Beneath the forest canopy, the jungle’s secrets unfold: tiny creatures scurry near a towering termite mound, while the roots of a sprawling banyan tree shelter hidden marvels. Through this poetic lens, the author paints a rich tapestry of the jungle, showcasing the beauty and distinct personalities of its wild residents.

 

Stephen wonderfully entertains his readers by making them imagine their life as a tiger cub. One hypothetical version of tiger cub that he mentions, he helps us feel relatable by explaining her relationship with her mother and two brothers. She tells how her brothers put less efforts in good task as compared to her whereas she can be called a tiger baby with good habits. Similarly, author also mentions how even she is dependent upon her brothers at times. The relationship between a mother and child is also given equal prominence and role of a mother is nicely depicted.

 

By the end of the book, I loved how author involves a human being in the story without having highlighted it specifically. That was such a great section to read and relate. Overall, this book is a good empathetical work which makes you feel more compassionate and related to the world of animals. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5.

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How the Cobra Got His Spectacles by Stephen Alter (Book Review: 4.5*/5) !!!

  

28^th Book of 2024

In India, we have multiple legends for any of the cultural aspect, festival, events etc. The positive thing about it is that we never debate or discuss about it but optimistically accept it considering it to be truth. Based on this concept, Stephen Alter has written this amazing short story named “How the Cobra got his Spectacles” which has been published by Aleph.

 

This 30-pages book discusses the Indian cobra’s regal hood which has a mark shaped like a pair of round spectacles. Author gets deeply into this concept and tries to creates a legend around it with a story that has a great message to it. First of all, the book starts with a introduction explaining about the breed and its special mark keeping it non-fiction. Then author dives down into the story and creates a wonderful tale about the relationship of an old hermit and a young naga.

 

Stephen has very intelligently helped us understand the complete characteristic of snakes. Unlike another book, A Little Lost Elephant, which has many animals mentioned but none explained in details, this book covers snake extensively and helps the readers connect with its personality. Even when the character of monkey enters the story, the nastiness of the animal is nicely displayed through its act of stealing the spectacles.

 

The whole flashback story/dream of the king etc. is nicely narrated which makes us believe it to be a reality. The ending is phenomenal which makes the readers learn that one who does good shall always be blessed by others and elders. Similarly, your good deed shall always be remembered for ages. Overall, the book has been nicely conceptualized and story has been told in a very realistic manner. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5.

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How the Greedy Crane Was Killed by the Clever Crab by Meena Arora Nayak (Book Review: 4.5*/5) !!!

  

27^th Book of 2024

If there is one collection of short stories that everyone remember from their childhood is – it’s none other than Panchatantra. The Panchatantra is an ancient Indian collection of interrelated animal fables in Sanskrit verse and prose, arranged within a frame story. It’s intent of making children learn about animals as well as our culture through stories are dominant in all its short stories. I just read a book which has two of their short stories retold by Meena Arora Nayak in a book published by Aleph in around 32 pages.

 

The two stories included are “How the greedy crane was killed by the clever crab” and “The Tale of the Fearful Rakshasa Vikala”. The first story about the crane and crab is such a great story to have chosen by the author as it teaches a very important lesson about life. It is as much effective for adults as it is for children. Once the suspense gets unfolded wherein crane’s harmful intention and act gets revealed, the way story takes turn and teaches the lesson about how anyone looking innocent and concern can’t be trusted on face value.

 

It also talks about the difference between a friend and an enemy. Also, how there can be an enemy in the form of a friend who might be close to us but must be planning things against us. This particular story has some tough words which might make the readers pick up the dictionary and learn a new word. I liked how author also mentions about our ancient methods of nakshatra and planetary movements which impacts the life on Earth. This tells how the ancient principles weren’t superstitious but scientific and logical as well.

 

The second story about Vikala is a light-tale which speaks about how a misunderstanding makes an evil person dig his own grave without having anyone else punish him. This teaches the reader how having wrong intention and doing wrong acts shall punish us later if not sooner. The concept of Karma is indirectly shared with the young readers to get an idea about how one shouldn’t trouble anyone as someday you shall be troubled as well. The involvement of animals in this story is also magically handled.

 

Overall, both these stories are impactful and retold in a beautiful manner. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5.

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A Little Lost Elephant by Stephen Alter (Book Review: 3.5*/5) !!!

  26^th Book of 2024

To ease off my reading marathon, I thought of getting nostalgic and read the books I would have read if I was 5-years old. This made me pick up few children books written by Stephen Alter. I started with the book “A Little Lost Elephant” which is a 40-pages book telling the story of a baby elephant who has got separated from his mother. He is marching throughout the jungle to find his mother back. In this path of search, he has to go through multiple challenges and survive against them.

 

Stephen has very intelligently included this aspect in his book which shall inculcate the behavior of fighting against all odds whenever you feel lost at life to meet your final goal you are anticipating to reach. Similarly, he makes the reader empathize with the protagonist which helps one to feel the pain of others as well. The illustrations in the book helps the readers to imagine the aesthetics in which the story has been based upon.

 

The author also tries the readers to get introduced with many animals such as leopard, jackals, woodpecker, civet, kittens, python, cobra, crocodile, mynah, peacock, grasshoppers, sloth bear, gaur, bull, chital deer etc. The story also tries to help us understand how elephant reacts upon meeting each of these animals. Similarly, the protagonist remembers what his mother used to do when she met with the dangerous animals and copies that to save himself. This teaches the skill of observation.

 

The book is hardcover hence it won’t get spoiled when the young readers would read it. They might get overwhelmed with the mention of many animals thrown back-to-back in the story which I believe author could have avoided. He must have mentioned only few animals but introduced all their characteristics with the readers. Overall, the book is interesting and you can gift it to young readers. I give it 3.5 stars out of 5.

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The Grip of Greed by Naveen Kundra (Book Review: 4.5*/5)!!!

  

25^th Book of 2024

It is always interesting to read books from the authors who return after their 1^st book as the Book industry isn’t polite with every author. It is always great to see the 1^st time authors becoming a regular in the shelfs of the bookstores. One such notifications that I received from Amazon was about the book release by the author, Naveen Kundra, whom I had first read in 2021. It didn’t take me a minute in ordering his 2^nd book named “The Grip of Greed” published by Srishti Publication in around 225-pages.

 

Literally speaking, it just took me few hours and a single sitting to go through the whole book with an anticipation of what’ll happen next. I love how Naveen writes where he doesn’t mention thriller anywhere in the introduction or synopsis of the book but the moment you are done reading the first 10 pages of the book, it becomes a perfect page-turner where you aren’t allowed to move anymore but know what will happen in the end. As mentioned by the author in the introduction, the book is a tale of power, ego clashes, revenge and the murky world of politics.

 

From the story point of view, it sounds simple as there are two women, Tanvi and Soundarya, who are against each other but I really liked the backdrop set-up by the author where both of them are going through their lowest points in life. This makes them do some really nasty and unnecessary things including a killing set-up as well. Reading the way author has characterized both the women personalities is commendable. Both are strong, ambitious, similar to each other yet very different. This tells how strongly human psyche has been studied and utilized by the author while developing both the protagonists.

 

Naveen Kundra uses the characters working for politics or government services very intelligently and despite them being a side or supporting characters, their involvement in the story works as a catalyst. Also, I love the way he develops these characters using real-life references which keeps the readers interested in solving the puzzle if this is based on a real-life incident or a fictional work. This time, he has used the characters of a Chief Minister and Journalist wittily and how their support aggravates the game of the main protagonists is fun to read.

 

Similarly, he adds an angle of entrepreneurship, business and the dirty connection they have to make with other people in power is phenomenal. It opens our eyes about the society we are living in where everyone is right and wrong at the same time. The relationship of people with money is also explored in different ways which makes us think about the level up to which we can droop down for multiplying our wealth. There are many such moments in the story.

 

Naveen has kept the chapters short which makes it easy for the readers to grasp the story and still read it with fast pace. The story really becomes fast-paced in the pre-climax and climax and it’s fun to read how all the characters come together to bring the exciting end to the story. Overall, this is a fun read which you can pick on any weekend and finish in one-go. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5.

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Chhath by Ekisha Singh (Book Review: 3.75*/5)!!!

  

24^th Book of 2024

I am glad that our youth is transforming and giving the respect to Indian traditions and festivals. There was a time when it had become scary as it felt that all the culture shall die down eventually seeing the Western traditions being adopted by the new generation. As the youth is getting inclined towards religion, they are moving towards reading and knowing about it as well. Surprisingly, such books are being written by youth themselves. I have just finished reading a book titled “Chhath” written by Ekisha Singh who is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree herself. This book published by Rupa publications also has a tagline that says “Worshipping the Sun, celebrating Nature”.

 

Chhath is a very prominent festival celebrated around 6^th day after Diwali – mostly in the Eastern part of India as well as Nepal. Author helps us understand what is Chhath as a festival and how it is celebrated across India these days. She tries to delve into the ancient past and gives us several legends based on which the festival is considered prominent and being celebrated era after era. She throws light upon the fact that it was considered auspicious and effective even in the era of Ramayan and Mahabharat where it is believed that Draupadi, Karna and even Lord Rama has participated in the Chhath rituals for their well-being.

 

I had only heard about Chhath as a festival celebrated in Bihar where women worship Sun by getting into the river or any water body nearby. I didn’t know a word more than that. I am quite surprised that someone could write 200 pages on this festival. This book is definitely insightful as after reading it, you would know as much about it as the people following it and in most of the cases, even more than them. Author has definitely been associated with the festival and her research around it is also evident in all the chapters that she has structured.

 

Author gives proper explanation of the four-day festival where she further explains how they are classified with different rituals namely Nahay Khay, Kharna, Sandhya Arghya and Bihaniya Arghya. She gives information on the procedures people go through by keeping long-fasting session of almost 36 hours and how they worship Sun both starting from Sunset on 3^rd day and Sunrise on the 4^th day signifying that after every darkness, there is always a new fresh start.

 

She explains how the festival aligns with nature, harmony, science, planetary positions, harvesting time, health benefits etc. She also mentions the fact that it brings people of all class and segments of society together on the same pedestal even if its about preparing the prasad/food together or praying together in the same water body without any discrimination. It was wonderful reading the parallel culture being followed in different parts of the world where Sun is worshipped almost with the same importance as in Chhath.

 

Ekisha also helps us understand the relationship of Surya Dev, Chhati Maiyya and other prominent Sanatan God and Goddesses associated with this festival. In the 2^nd half of the book, authoress gets deeper and helps us understand different rituals from point of view of fasting, offering, puja site, Vedic chanting, folk singing, processions and other cultural activities. In the last part of the book, she explains the scientific benefits of participating in this chapter from the aspects of improving circadian rhythm, increasing Vitamin D, relaxing digestive system, detoxifying etc.

 

The book is knowledgeable and must be read by everyone wanting to know about this festival. It’s written in very easy language which helps us in completing it within a single sitting itself. From the drawbacks point of view, I must say that author has repeated many concepts and information multiple times which makes it irritating to read almost the same thing in every chapter. This book could have been easily summed in 100 pages. The editor must have helped the young author in structuring the book better and making it crisp. Secondly, I feel that authoress could have gone deeper into the scientific aspect of the festival the way articles are written on Mahashivratri and Ekadashi where the planetary angles etc. are described in detail.

 

Overall, this is a great attempt by the author on such a critical topic where you can’t make mistake of writing unverified facts or tales. I give this book 3.75 stars out of 5.

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WRITING BUDDHA

7 Lessons of Karm Yoga by Richa Tilokani (Book Review: 4*/5) !!!

  

23^rd Book of 2024

I remember reading a book by Dale Carnegie when I begun my career named “How to enjoy your life and your job” because people had scared me so much that I won’t be able to manage my personal life once the professional commitments would kick in. Definitely, as we say about “Self-help” books, it did help me initially as few of its teachings stayed somewhere in my subconscious mind. After almost 9 years of work experience, I felt that I need to read another book to get new lessons based on our ancient culture which made me pick up Richa Tilokani’s book “7 Lessons of Karm Yoga”. This 200-pages book published by Rupa also comes up with a tagline that says “Mindset management for Work-Life success”.

 

Richa starts the book explaining us about Karm Yoga as an overview before diving into the details. She helps us understand the three gunas and understand in which of the three we fall in. It helps us get clarity regarding the level at which we stand and where we must aspire to reach. The way she explained Rajo, tamo and sattva gun from modern work-related concepts really made me decipher where do I fall and in what quotient is each of them imbibed in my personality.

 

Authoress has studied the ancient texts very devotedly which can be sensed from her research and the types of quotes and references she uses throughout. The book has many Sanskrit quotes with their respective translation and explanation by the author. She has majorly taken reference from Bhagavad Gita as one of its major sections is based on Karm Yoga. She doesn’t restrict her only till Gita but also used Ved and Upanishad quotes to explain the pointers. She even shares us great words said or written by esteemed personalities like Nelson Mandela, Gandhi etc.

 

 Richa has given practical wisdom and ensures that some of the concepts which authors generally use As-It-Is from the ancient texts that further confuses the readers are explained well. For e.g. there’s a whole section on Desires where Richa clarifies that desires as a concept aren’t wrong completely. We must be aware about the kind of desires we are keeping while preparing our professional goals. Along with giving us professional advices, in the very beginning itself, author tells how important is keeping ourselves physically and mentally fit to create a good base for our professional careers.

 

Like Maslow’s hierarchical model, even author starts giving us her 7 lessons in a similar manner where she explains how our leadership must be based upon good foundation and with time, how we should work upon in refining them rather than trying to follow all the seven principles at once and fail miserably.

 

There are key takeaway sections which helps us note the major points separately. Similarly, author has nicely divided chapters into multiple sections/sub-sections and explaining them with multiple bullet points etc. to make it easier for us to understand the concepts well without getting confused.

 

Overall, the book can be completed in two to three sitting though I would advice to read it slowly and try to implement the small lessons in daily office lives. I am glad authors are using the ancient wisdom and trying to deliver them in modern context to make it easier for us to comprehend and create actionable out of them. I will give this book 4 stars out of 5.

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WRITING BUDDHA

A Glimpse of the Future by Mayank Manohar (Book Review: 4.25*/5) !!!

  

22^nd Book of 2024

I remember reading Shadow of the Past published by FingerPrint publication exactly 5 years back and I had rated it more than 4 stars – quite much as I wouldn’t rate romantic books that highly because all of them sounded the same. After reading the amazing climax written by the author, Mayank Manohar, I had written the following in my review-

"Talking about the climax, the last paragraph is too open for you to be surprised and shocked for some time. I just couldn’t believe what I read which made me read the paragraph multiple times which made me realize that it’s an open ending and there’s a chance we can find its sequel soon. I would request author to bring it out soon as the way he is writing romance right from his 1st book itself is very promising and I would like to read him more."

 

Finally, after 5 years, author took the story ahead and published the 2^nd part of it named “A Glimpse of the Future” which also has the tagline that says “A journey of redemption and resilience”. I must say that the book exactly matches the vibes with its tagline because the way the characterization of Rehan moves on from where it ended in the first book, it’s all about his patience and expectations that sets the future of his life. Author tries to take us deep into the mindset of the person who has lost his first girlfriend and ended up ruining his relationship with his 2^nd girlfriend as well. Obviously, he is going through a lot mentally and it has come to a stage where he has to visit a rehab center as well to get back to his zone.

 

Author has very nicely narrated the whole section where Rehan meets with his ex-girlfriend again and gets a chance to revive his relationship. Reading about his past about how the relationship arc went through its ups and downs during the 2^nd innings makes this book interesting to read. The book is written in two timelines which are just couple of years apart but it tells about two versions of the protagonist- firstly, what happened with him in the past and secondly, where he is currently in his life due to his past which makes the book exciting as it’s not all-and-all a romance and break-up story but also about the mindset, philosophy and mental health a person has to go through after a big life-transforming event in their life.

 

Mayank makes this book sound like an autobiographical account where we get to read many entries such as diary scribbles where the protagonist writes what’s going in his mind. I felt like re-reading these pages. Then there are multiple sections wherein every sentence is quote-worthy and you feel like highlighting/noting each one of them. Not even once does Mayank gets carried away by the concept of his book and become preachy about mental health. It’s all explained only through the character’s pain and rehab stories.

 

The small catalysts that add up to one’s mental shift such as anxiety, helplessness, failure, rejection, hopelessness etc. are nicely conveyed. Author further tries to explain to his audience and clarify the fact that even after rehab, a person might end up in darkness for a long period of time. He keeps it evident that it doesn’t transform you immediately but things settle down gradually for someone who has gone through mental health issues.

 

In the last few pages, Manohar gives a glimpse into how two people who have walked a similar path in their respective lives related to heartbreaks and mental issues can understand each other through better communication and come together for a better life. Author has used this book to mention and explain every possibility that can lead a person towards a better future after a bad past or present. I am glad that this book shall connect with people who have been into isolation once and talked a lot with themselves. They’ll understand the big monologues where Rehan talks with himself quite often.

 

Overall, this book despite being 300-pages long keeps you invested. I must say that author could have edited it more to bring it down to 240-odd pages as it also become tiring to read the similar state of mind of the protagonist for a very long time. But yes, the book is a hopeful story and Mayank’s writing has only got better with time. I give this book 4.25* out of 5. It is as good as its first part. You can still directly read this book without having to read both the book to understand the story. Author has managed it very well. Go, get it!

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WRITING BUDDHA

Affairs of Deception by Rakesh Kumar Singh (Book Review: 4.25*/5) !!!

 

21^st Book of 2024

Reading a murder mystery or a suspense book is always the best experience for any reader as the story moves in a very fast paced and keeps us on our toes. Another aspect to it is that we know the way it must be written where the investigators shall be given the main space whereas the people close to the victim shall be given second preference with almost all of them under suspicion. I am glad to have read this book “Affairs of Deception” written by a very experienced author – Rakesh Kumar Singh.

 

The book has treated the murder-mystery as a normal fiction story unlike the above-mentioned template. While reading the book, it doesn’t give you the feeling of reading a thriller. In fact, by middle of the book, you’ll even forget about any murders that has happened in the initial pages. Though the first few pages of the book are difficult due to multiple characters being introduced one after another which makes it hard for us to remember them. I had to create a mind map diagram in my notes which made my task easier. Also, the first 5-10 pages sound like a typical thriller but the way Rakesh changes the tone of the book transforms the whole narrative itself.

 

The characters are nicely created. I am glad to say that author doesn’t forget any of his characters in any of the chapters. Almost all of them are given their share of space so evenly that you might start feeling any of them as the protagonist. The arc of each character is beautifully narrated as we get used to their personalities and their change of decisions. Most of them are gray in nature where they are right and wrong in certain respective aspects but yet you can’t support or defy them completely. Rakesh Kumar Singh is a great story-teller and knows how to use the props in the book well.

 

As the author himself is from government service working with Central Reserve Police Force, he has used his knowledge well in describing the nature of work of people involved in services, politics, business and so on. Their relationship with their family and how they can end up getting submerged into the game of power, greed, lies, lust and crime is described aptly. Even when author talks about the modern-day marriage problems of extra-marital affairs or lust-based actions, he writes them giving so much attention that you don’t treat those sections as just another romantic or love-making section but treat them as an important event in the book. I liked how author treats this taboo-based topics without making them sound a pure criminal act.

 

The book has been divided in short chapters which makes it easy to complete in one or two sittings. The pre-climax set-up is amazing and makes you enjoy the last portion of the book equally. Just in the climax, a random person ends up as the criminal which makes it a bit disappointing because as a reader you keep on raising your fingers among the main characters hence it upsets when a not-so-relevant character turns out to be the criminal. Anyway, the book is a great page-turner and even if you remove the thriller aspect, the story is a nice-to-read work. I would rate this book 4.25* out of 5.

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WRITING BUDDHA

Party to a Crime by Rohithari Rajan (Book Review: 3.5*/5) !!!

  

20^th Book of 2024

After reading couple of non-fictions, it was obvious that I will be picking up a fiction to enjoy a story. I got my hands upon a murder-mystery published by Rupa Publications and it didn’t take me twice to start reading it. I just completed reading Rohithari Rajan’s 285-pages novel named “Party to a Crime”. It’s a murder mystery based upon the death of a young entrepreneur and startup founder, Karan. The news has become the sensation and hence the investigation is paced upon to identify the murderer as soon as possible to provide the answer to the nation.

 

The book has been planned and drafted very well. I must say that the idea of telling the whole investigation set-up not from the Investigators’ angle but from the multiple suspects’ angle gave the book its high that it needed. It was fun reading how the four characters named in the synopsis of the book tells their version of their history with Karan, their involvement on the party night, what they did before and after the party etc. It is fun reading their versions as it seems we are reading short stories where the characters are interconnected with each other.

 

The book is narrated in a very friendly manner with short chapters which clearly makes it easy for readers to complete the whole book within one or two sittings despite it being of almost 300 pages. I still believe that author could have easily sliced the book by 50-pages. Few sections were definitely stretched and unwanted scenes are detailed which makes it boring to read the investigators’ expressions and thoughts between the interesting twists and turns being shared by the suspects. Similarly, the conversations with the characters sound very bland at times with no expressions whatsoever. Even when the death is revealed to them, their normal response irritates the excited reader within you who was expecting a reaction.

 

The way investigations take place where it’s being done on different days where each day opens a new layer of story keeps us hooked to the book. It helps keeping the book become a perfect page-turner. The story just doesn’t describe about the party scenes but about the human nature as well because the purpose why each of them could have been involved in this crime has a tendency and trait attached to their personality.

 

Author has described the whole party scene very descriptively which helps the readers visualize how the whole venue must be and even the party happenings as well. Rohithari never sounds like a new author at any junction of this book. His writing capabilities are amazing. In the pre-climax, the way he starts unfolding the whole thing amazes the readers by his presence of mind. His thoughtfulness in writing and crafting this story tells about his writing and imaginative skills.

 

I just felt that the climax could have been more happening. I felt that author tried writing this book as a script for an OTT series getting inspired by the new thrillers available on these video platforms. It felt like I am watching it as a series rather than a novel. It could have been better if there was a better conversation with the guilty at the end of the book. Similarly, I felt that the investigation part has no meaning in the story at all as the investigators just doesn’t do anything great to solve this mystery. It’s just the author’s narration that brings us to the answer of the whole puzzle. I wish author could have handled this part well.

 

Overall, this is definitely a great book to enjoy on a weekend at home. You will not miss going out at all. I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5.

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WRITING BUDDHA

Become An Achiever Right Now by Aleph Book Company (Book Review: 4*/5)!!!

  

19^th Book of 2024

I like the concept of publishing the anthology which picks up the relevant chapters from the bestseller books of the popular authors. Aleph Publications regularly publishes such books where there’s a theme to the book which consists of the chapters from popular books which helps us get the gist of what the book tries to convey us. I have completed reading “Become An Achiever Right Now” which is a short anthology consisting of the non-fictional chapters from self-help and motivational books. The book is a part of the series called “A masterclass from the Supergurus”. It consists of the chapters written by the prominent authors like Dale Carnegie, James Allen, Kahlil Gibran, Napoleon Hill etc.

 

Achieving greatness is not just about talent or luck; it requires boldness, resilience, and an extraordinary work ethic. While many successful individuals share these foundational traits, what truly sets them apart is their ability to think strategically, adapt to challenges, and create a path unique to their vision. In Become an Achiever Right Now, renowned self-help experts, philosophers, poets, and writers—whose words have impacted millions—uncover the principles that drive extraordinary success. Through their insights, readers will learn practical methods for reaching their goals, even while navigating the everyday hurdles and setbacks that life inevitably presents. This guide is more than just inspiration; it's a toolkit for turning ambition into reality by embracing both the triumphs and trials along the way.

 

There are few chapters with which I was really able to resonate. I am mentioning few of them below:

• The Dale Carnegie's theory of remembering names is such a small advice but the impact it can make is beautifully explained.
• The chapter on enthusiasm is amazing where author tries to explain how it must be generated from within rather than people's reaction. He also signifies how convicted people might be quiet but they have ample amount of excitement within them.
• The James Allen chapter in the start of session two is such a good reminder dat we are the parents of our thoughts and how we only create states and conditions in our life as we attract what our thoughts are.
• Orison Swett Marden speaks of how just manifestations wont bring results but a perseverance to bring them into realities will eventually convert things for us.
• A chapter before, another author very intelligently depicts how sun puts d same amount of energy on everything or how every drop in ocean has the same power of chemistry in it. Similarly, we should have the same passion for evrything we do or desire.
• Dale Carnegie's another chapter on criticism comes like a fresh breeze and motivated me like no other chapter until then. I am in just awe of this writer who uses real life examples to prove his philosophies.
• William George Jordan explains how consecration, concentration, conquest and conscience can make a man experience the real happiness which no one can take away from him/her.
• Few poems in between keep the book interesting with short fillers.

 

From the drawback perspectives, I can only say that few of the chapters are written in a bit tough language which few young readers might find hard to understand and grasp. Rest, this is a great book to gift your young friends below 35. I rate this book 4 stars out of 5.

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WRITING BUDDHA