Coming Back Home by Anuradha Prasad (Book Review- 3.75*/5) !!!

It is always special to read the 2nd book of any author whose debut book was read by you as soon as it was out. It is a kind of a risk you had taken then and only because you liked the author did you wait for so long to purchase the 2nd book. One such author for me has been Anuradha Prasad. I had read her 1st book 2 years back when it released and waited till now for her 2nd. Finally, I got my hands on it and I completed it in just 2 sittings. The name of the book is "Coming Back Home". The cover page of the book is very artistic which makes you excited to read about the story of the glamour industry where boys and girls fall up to an extent to enter in the field. This story is also about two such characters trying their luck- Arpita and Riku.

The writing style of Anuradha Prasad is very simple which is basically targeted for all the new readers as well who have just started picking up pulp fiction novels to at least start reading something. This book is definitely a great time pass and you would not feel bored even for a moment as story keeps moving in fast pace. The characterization of each and every character right from the protagonists to Sunny, Sujoy, Rahul and Arpita's parents is done so well that you can understand the mindset of each one of them. 

The story begins with the regular stuff about how girls are treated in the industry as objects and everyone wants to sleep with them in exchange of a small role in a big movie or television. At that point, I had felt that the whole book is going to talk about obvious things but I was amazed how author left this at the initial level itself and moved ahead to the love angle of the protagonists. Even that wasn't narrated like a cliche and teenage stuff but authoress directly came to the point. The way story moves towards the depression and loneliness of one character and then to the other is what makes this book readable and special. 

In the 2nd half, authoress shifts her focus little from Arpita while Sunny is shown in the light of another protagonist and reading about him also makes the experience of the reader delightful. You will find an ideal man in him. In the pre-climax, the way Riku again comes back, it feels as if the obvious ending is about to happen. But the whole execution of the same has been dealt with so maturely that last pages of the book leaves you grinning and smiling. 

Talking about the drawbacks of the book, I would say that the editing has not been taken quite seriously. This book could have got more effective and precise if it would have been shortened up to 250 pages or so. There are many scenes which weren't required and didn't take story ahead. Secondly, the character of Riku is totally ignored after a point of time. As his characterization is very nicely projected in the initial pages, it would have been fun reading about a man from small town making big in industry and then doing different stuffs when finding himself losing his stardom. Thirdly, I didn't find much research from the author in terms of the theme of the story- Bollywood. Author kept the things simple. May be because she wanted to speak more about the relationships between the characters than what happens in Bollywood. 

Over all, this book is a light read and a fine page-turner. It is more on the darker side as characters face lots of depression in between. But specifically leaves a message about how a woman can bounce back in life after being thrown away by a man for not being as good as him. I liked how author managed to send across a message without being preachy. I give this book 3.75* out of 5 and recommend it to the readers.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!! 

State vs Amrit Kumar by Dr. Govind Sharma (Book Review- 3.75*/5)!!!

After taking a long break from reading when I finally returned back to it, I picked up the book written by the debutante, Dr. Govind Sharma IAS (RETD), named "State vs Amrit Kumar". Seeing that the book is of about 150 pages only, I had doubts if it would have covered anything substantial in the name of the story which can create any kind of effect on the reader, but the experience of reading this one turned out to be great because of the depth in which author have covered the whole story. Right from the first page, author keeps you intrigued regarding what will finally happen with Mr. Amrit Kumar, the protagonist of this story. You want to know why is the lawyer fighting his case when he is the Hero of the story and could not have done anything wrong. 

The book starts with introduction of too many characters which is the only drawback I found in this story. Remembering too many characters and their relation with each other made things very complex for the reader. But the characters have really managed to give depth to the background of the story that author have managed to cover in the first half of the book. The way author have built up the story wins the reader's heart. At a point when we come to know that Amrit Kumar have just taken his birth in the story, it comes as a surprise that the whole story is going to take us to the next generation all together. And the way dots are connected in the 2nd half by letting each other's children meet among themselves etc, gives story the much needed boost.

The characterization of Amrit Kumar is nicely done and the way he fights against the corrupt without worrying about the law and the instructions from his seniors makes you another fan of his. Author have also tried to justify up to what level can a police officer go to help the society and people. Even though the character's mindset is rightly defined according to a horrific incident he experienced as a child, author haven't proved everything done by him as a right revenge against corrupts. The politics, lust, love, belonging-ness, motherly love, corruption etc. are very well covered by the writer. The story had so many dimensions that I felt I only got to read the synopsis in 150 pages. Author could have easily stretched this story and explained things more descriptively by writing it in 350-400 pages. I will give this book 3.75* out of 5.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!! 

The Strongman's Daughter by Madhuri Iyer (Book Review- 4*/5) !!!

After a long time, I picked up a novel to read as my examination got over. I am highly satisfied with my choice for the book I picked to get back to reading. The book is written by Ms. Madhuri Iyer named "The Strongman's Daughter". I had liked the first book written by her very much named "Manhattan Mango". And I don't even remember to how many friends I have already recommended it. I had lots of expectations with the authoress and I can happily claim that this is another good book written by her with so many emotions, twists and turns that you are always excited to know what is going to happen next in the life of the protagonist, Aditi Narvekar.

There are few writers who write only about the rich society just like how Zoya Akhtar always create movies for the same class of people. Both the sisters, Anita Shirodkar and Madhuri Iyer are also doing the same in the field of literature. Haha! This book is about the relationship between the father and the daughter. Father is the CM of Goa who is the most powerful man in the area. He have already decided that his daughter is going to be the successor in politics for him. But as usual, the daughter doesn't want to get into politics but some situations lead her to join hands with her father's biggest rival and the story unfolds just like a Bollywood movie.

The premise of the story could have made this book sound unrealistic and over the imagination kind of content but fortunately, authoress haven't written a single scene which felt like an unwanted addition or exaggerated formation of the situation. The characterizations are perfect and you can think from everyone's point of view. The way Aditi is fighting for herself; the way Maithili have given herself totally to the CM without thinking that he is her best friend's father; the way Raj Dias enters the story and becomes a great part of it; the little cameos of Steve and Sonam; and the big ego of Mr. CM etc- every character have played a part which will make you remember their names even after weeks of reading the book.

Overall, author have done justice to this saga of a young girl's clash against her father. The book is a perfect page-turner. I liked reading about what might happen behind the closed door of such rich families. What more does this person needs who likes to know the internal matters of every household? Haha! I give the book 4 stars out of 5.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!!