Book Review : Soulmates, By Chance by Heenashree Khandelwal

I received this book as a giveaway at Goodreads.com. When I received the book and read the back cover blurb I was hoping this was not one of the books with a typical love story and surprisingly it was not!

Wow....this one is quite a page turner...a different story for a change and with lots of twists and turns.

Soulmates, by chance is the story of Rakshit and Avani. Rakshit who belongs to a rich family and was a spoilt brat before he left for the US after an incident which he didnt know would haunt him for life. Avani is the sweet, studious and straight forward girl who wants to study and support her family but her mother wants her to get married and settle down.

Eventually Rakshit happens to come to India for a project and one look at Avani at a party and he falls head over heels in love with her. He does get married to her but Avani gets to know about his past and things are not too good between them.

The rest of the story is how Rakshit tries to prove himself innocent. The story was a page turner but there are some parts that I would really not agree upon. Apart from the fact that even after knowing Rakshit's past Avani quite easily forgives him and a few grammatical errors here and there, the book was good. For a first book Heenashree has done a good job.  

I would rate the book 3.5/5. 

Book Review : House of cards by Sudha Murty

Sudha Murty comes out with her next book called House of Cards. Thankfully I got to lay my hands on a copy and as always its was a good read. Sudha Murty is known for her simple yet strong stories that gets you thinking and keeps you wanting to read some more. The language she uses is so simple and her stories so good that you can actually relate to them.

House of cards is the story of Mridula, a simple and sweet girl who is full of life and enthusiasm. She is intelligent and an honest girl who believes in doing the right thing always. She stays with her parents and her brother in Aladahalli a small village in North Karnataka. Where all want to be a doctor or an engineer, Mridula chooses to be a teacher. 

Sanjay, a doctor, is the son of Ratnamma, a money lender in T Narasipura, works in KEM Hospital Mumbai under Dr Chandra. Sanjay meets Mridula at a marriage celebration in her village and falls in love with her. Sanjay proposes marriage and Mridula informs her parents of the same. They get married and move to Bangalore. Sanjay goes on to complete his post-graduation and Mridula joins a government school as a teacher. After getting frustrated in a Government job, Sanjay moves into private practice. 

Though Mridula and Sanjay move up in status and wealth they eventually drift apart after twenty five years from each other in thoughts, words and deeds. Mridula being an honest person expects the same from her husband too but she is shocked when she comes to know that he has been hiding something from her and having his own secrets. 

This is a very well written book and the story is about how dishonesty can hamper a relation. Sudha Murty brings us the story of a common person, someone we can relate to and that is what makes her books so special. I have always loved her work and this one is definitely a good read.

Book Review: Faceless by Tapan Ghosh

Book Summary :

"Dildo in a bin!??Who put it in?"??Embarrassed about mistaking a vibrator for a bomb, Khush and his anti-terror squad go about looking for the owner of the pleasure tool. Khush and Shom have been friends since childhood. In their forties now, they love to swing to latino beats in Mumbai's nightclubs. Shom, the reticent one, is very different from the flamboyant Khush. Everything changes when Shom meets Raima. Their sensual yet spiritual love is separated by age, wealth and background. Shom throws caution to the wind and meets life head on, choosing honesty over hypocrisy. It's a Love Story emerging in the contemporary world of wealth, lust and power, like the freshness of the lotus flowering in stagnant waters. Raima, a victim of circumstance, is exposed to the world very early in life and as such she is tough, sharp and street smart. She is the soul of the book. Faceless is the story of love and passion so powerful, so pure, that we live it with Shom and Raima.

My Review :

The cover of this book and the first line on the summary above quite attracted me to pick up the book for a read. There are many characters involved in this book but the story revolves around Shom and Raima and about how they fall in love with each other. Extra marital affair, sex, shemales....the author has tried to cover as many topics as he could in this fast paced book. It keeps you engrossed to know what happens next. I also failed to connect on the part where the author tries to portray Khush and Shom as members of a bomb squad team...successful businessmen...rich...own a Land Yatch...have a good stock of drugs stacked up on the yatch....really??? The plot looks refreshing at the start but somewhere in between the rhythm breaks and never catches back. The book should be read with no expectations and a cleared out mind.

This is good just for a quick breezy read while you dont have anything good at hand to read. Since its a page turner for the wrong or the right reasons I would rate this as a 2/5. 

Book Review: Ask me no questions & Spicy bites of biryani

This is a book review post for 2 books that I read recently....finally I get to post it :)

1. As me no questions by Marina Budhos :

This is a story of Nadira a Bangladeshi living with her family in New York city with expired visas living with a dream of being permanent citizens of the Unites States. But after the 9/11 incident everything changes for them, being a muslim means you are the next  suspected terrorist. Every muslim men from certain middle eastern countries are required to register with the US government providing valid ID documents. This leads Nadira and her family to drive down to the Canadian border to seek asylum where their documents are checked and her father has been detained by the US government and not allowed to enter Canada. Nadira's mother stays back at the shelter house to be present at the trails her father goes through and Nadira along with her sister Aisha return to the country and stay with their aunt and uncle acting and continuing their life as normal. 

Thus beings the tryst of getting their father out of jail and getting their documents in place. Nadira's sister Aisha is a brilliant student and has been nominated to be her high school valedictorian. But she slowly falls apart where she completely breaks down and Nadira who is always considered the fat and lazy girl decides to do something about the situation and try and put her family back together. 

This is a very well written novel describing immigration issues of hard working innocent people who struggle to give the best to their family with a constant fear of being an illegal. A very strong book that I would recommend to all.

2. Spicy Bites of Biryani: Because Life Needs a Little Masala by Ashwina Garg

In this book the story revolves around Sanjay, Aditi, Mayank and Jayashree....Sanjay a US returned millionaire who is looking to marry and settle down, Aditi who is a commitment phobic who keeps having flings and dumping guys with different reasons and Mayank and Jayashree the perfect couple dealing with their not so perfect family and project deadlines at work.

The characters are very well defined and makes the story line even more stronger. 

This is a well written fiction different from the usual casual college romances that are doing the rounds. Its mature, witty and humorous too. The book gets interesting once Sanjay and Aditi start seeing each other. This is Ashwina's debut novel and its a pretty good one at that. Anyone looking for a light read can definitely pick this one. Lets see if we get a second one from the author. It is surely a change from the same old romance novels that we get to read from the budding authors. 

My blog My blog...I have missed you so much

I hope I finally end up publishing this post....it has been happening in the recent past where I have started typing out a post and then saving it for later and then it just ends up as an addition to the long list of drafts ....aaarghhh...I just hate that!!!

Ok yesterday morning I almost dragged myself to work, I dont know why but lately I have sort of been low on energy...not that I am a power puff girl but yeah I just wasn't finding anything interesting at all. But when I walked to my work desk I noticed that my florist had placed some beautiful flowers on my desk and in an instant my mood was so much better that I could sing a song and do a slow motion dance.....No, I didnt do that of course else my boss would have sent me home citing mental reasons....(grinnnn)

Here is a pic of my work desk....look how beautiful they are.....

And today when I walked in....oh my god....just look at the picture below....the flowers had bloomed and they looked even more prettier. i had no idea those flowers would bloom...I am every 5 seconds looking at them and feeling so calm and nice. And its friday....that day of the week employees wait for just like the parched earth waits for that drop of rain.... :-)

Here have a look.....

I am so glad finally I am posting this....and have a nice weekend friends...until next time this is chirpy Avina signing off....

Book Review : The Secret Wishlist by Preeti Shenoy

Book Summary :

Does true love really exist or is it just a cliche? Can a single kiss really change your life? 

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? Once again, Preeti Shenoy brings an extraordinary story that tugs at the heartstrings, with insight and wisdom, as she explores the delicate matters of the heart. 

The Secret Wish List is a captivating, engrossing, racy tale about following your heart, chasing your dreams and the meaning of friendship. 

My Review :

An ardent fan of Preeti's work I was delighted to find a copy of this book at my library and jumped to grab it before it was gone. The Secret Wishlist is Preeti Shenoy's fourth book and was a delight to read.

It is about a girl called Diksha who when a teenager was caught kissing her boyfriend and that one incident changed her entire life with her parents taking control of her life and getting her married off at an early age and a boy of their choice. She started living a normal life with no complaints until she was made to realize by her close cousin that she is nothing but a maid to her husband and her son. She is not living her life for herself but for her family. 

Certain events happen which gets Diksha to prepare a wishlist....things that she would want to do. And from there on her life changes completely where even without her knowledge she ignorantly completes each wish written on her list. 

There is a change in the writing style from what I have seen or read in Preeti's previous books. But nevertheless the story is good and I was turning pages to know what next what next and before I knew I had finished the book in just one day! Preeti sells dreams through her books....her stories....dreams that involve alot of love, life and above all hope. Through her stories there is one message I have always derived.....never lose hope! 

Every woman and for that matter every man should read this book. The women cause we at times let people take us for granted and also there needs to be some self searching to be done. Some women get so engrossed in their mundane house-office work they forget what it is to actually live. And all the men so that before they start considering their wife to be just a "housewife" realize that she too is a human who has her own dreams and life.

The Secret Wishlist is a good read and I would rate it a 4 on 5. 

Goodbye 2012....Welcome 2013!!!

Its the last day of the year....there is something about this "last day of the year" feeling that is totally not explainable. People get all emotional, make up resolutions and get into an all party mood to ring in the new year with great gusto.

What I don't get is if we have to set a resolution why not do it any day of the year or if we have to party why not party on any day and enjoy just as much as we do on new years eve...we always need a reason for change and sometimes not, right? I am not killing the new year spirit here but just emphasizing how great this feeling of new year's eve is!!!!

I am down with bad cold and a headache that just doesn't want to leave me but I am not going to let it kill my excitement for my party tonight. I am at work and have my meds and cough syrup right on my table next to the warm soothing lemon tea. I am making all efforts to feel alright so that I can enjoy myself. Really its just the feeling that is not letting me succumb and keeping me going through the day.

There is indeed this feeling on 31st December where I am sure all would sit and think about the year gone by and are engrossed in planning or wondering what the coming year has in store for us. There are many things we have learnt from life and there are many things we are yet to learn.Personally I have had a splendid year....truly enjoyed it be it good times or bad. Cause I know good or bad....it will pass, all we have to do is hold on to ourselves and be strong.

I cant wait for January 2013 to begin as I have a short trip planned to one of the loveliest place on earth...Goa!!!

So here is wishing you all a very Happy New Year!!! Let bygones be bygones and bring in the new year with new hope and luck for everything you do!





Let the party begin!!!!

Book Review : The Bankster by Ravi Subramanian

This is the long overdue review of The Bankster by Ravi Subramanian which I received from blogadda as a part of their Book Review Programme. Struggling with many assignments at hand I have finally managed to come back to my loving blog and get this review published. This is the first of Ravi Subramanian that I have read although this is the fifth of the five Finance related books he has written and now I know why Wall street Journal has labeled him as the John Grisham of Banking!

Book Summary:

Bestselling author Ravi Subramanian, a master storyteller of financial crime and winner of the Golden Quill Readers Choice Award, returns with his most gripping thriller yet.

Bankers build their careers on trust, or so everyone thinks, till a series of murders threaten to destroy the reputation that the Greater Boston Global Bank (GB2) has built over the years. Who is behind these killings, and what is their motive?

When Karan Panjabi, press reporter and ex-banker, digs deeper, he realizes that he has stumbled upon a global conspiracy with far reaching ramifications a secret that could not only destroy the bank but also cast a shadow on the entire nation. With only thirty-six hours at his disposal, he must fight the clock and trust no one if he is to stay alive and uncover the truth.

About the Author:

Ravi Subramanian an alumnus of IIM Bangalore, has spent two decades working his way up the ladder of power in the amazingly exciting and adrenaline-pumping world of global banks in India. It is but natural that his stories are set against the backdrop of the financial services industry. He lives in Mumbai with his wife Dharini and daughter Anusha. In 2008, he won the Golden Quill Readers Choice award for his debut novel, If God was a Banker. 

My Review:

As this was the first time I was reading one of Subramanian’s books I was pleasantly surprised as not only the story is gripping but the characterization is also too good. There are three parallel plots running together, as you read each chapter, your mind swings from here to there and back again. It is a complete page turner, which keeps you hooked to it.

The book opens with a man who lands up at Angola and strikes a deal to exchanges weapons for the world famous blood diamonds of Africa. The plot shifts to a family in Kerala, where the head of the family is accused for a crime that he has not committed. The person is concerned about a social cause till some opportunists get involved with the whole thing and things take an ugly turn. A parallel plot runs in Mumbai at the GB2 bank, where their key employees get mysteriously murdered one after another.

Overall, The Bankster is an interesting read. The language is quite simple and does not have complicated banking terminology, which makes it easy to understand and follow. There is not a dull moment in the book. A totally unexpected twist as to who the real culprit is!  I would definitely recommend the book to all readers who love fast moving thriller plots.

I would rate this book a 3.5/5.

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com . Participate now to get free books!

Book Review : Of Love & Lovers

Book Summary :

A rocky relationship with an NRI coupled with a tragic, personal loss has made Samantha somewhat cynical in matters of the heart. Shipra and Vikas are aware of the consequences of their love.Will their relationship stand the test of time?

Aditya has to choose between his love and his familys expectations of him. Is he capable of making the right choice? Spanning across Toronto and Mumbai, the lives of these four intersect dramatically when Samantha comes to India on an exchange program.

Will the power of love assert itself or will it bow down under the weight of the obstacles in its path?

My review :

Just as the title goes the book is about love and lovers. Samantha who comes to Mumbai on an exchange program and more so ever to try and find closure from the haunting fact of her sisters mysterious death in Mumbai. She goes through a heartbreak which is nursed by the undying spirit of Mumbai and the loving embrace of her new friends Shipra and Vikas. She tries to find answers to true love and she finds them in her friends love story and through her own love story. 

This is the author Pamela Sinha Mathur's first book. The language is easy and the story well written. It is okay for a one time light read. 

Book Review: The Krishna Key

Title : The Krishna Key
Author : Ashwin Sanghi
Published : by Westland Ltd
Pages : 464
Price : Rs. 250/-

Book Summary : 

Five thousand years ago, there came to earth a magical being called Krishna, who brought about innumerable miracles for the good of mankind. Humanity despaired of its fate if the Blue God were to die but was reassured that he would return in a fresh avatar when needed in the eventual Dark Age—the Kaliyug. 

In modern times, a poor little rich boy grows up believing that he is that final avatar. 

Only, he is a serial killer. 

In this heart-stopping tale, the arrival of a murderer who executes his gruesome and brilliantly thought-out schemes in the name of God is the first clue to a sinister conspiracy to expose an ancient secret—Krishna’s priceless legacy to mankind. 

Historian Ravi Mohan Saini must breathlessly dash from the submerged remains of Dwarka and the mysterious lingam of Somnath to the icy heights of Mount Kailash, in a quest to discover the cryptic location of Krishna’s most prized possession. From the sand-washed ruins of Kalibangan to a Vrindavan temple destroyed by Aurangzeb, Saini must also delve into antiquity to prevent a gross miscarriage of justice. Ashwin Sanghi brings you yet another exhaustively researched whopper of a plot, while providing an incredible alternative interpretation of the Vedic Age that will be relished by conspiracy buffs and thriller-addicts alike. 

My Review :

The first thing I would like to emphasize here is that the book will seem so much like a Dan Brown work but nevertheless it is excellently written making me want to grab the earlier two books written by Ashwin Sanghi. The Krishna Key starts as a thriller and murder mystery and progresses towards a more philosophical end. There is a lot of hardwork and research that has been put into bringing this book together. It’s a marvelous fast paced book that keeps you glued to it. The Krishna key is a very different kind of book, with two differrent but similar stories running parallel to each other and at times are interconnected to each other as well. Some people who love action or excitement filled ending may find the ending of this one not that impressive. Every chapter starts with a paragraph of Krishna's life, which was very helpful for a person like me who doesn't know much about Krishna. There are a few printing mistakes which could have been avoided. The author could have worked a bit more towards character development in order to help the reader put a face on each name that appeared. The story takes so many twists and turns and you really need to be focused so as to not lose the grip so ensure you have ample of time with very less disturbances or breaks. The use of pictures and images, enhances the reading experience at the same time indulges you into the story. But it is one in all a good read and recommended as well. For people who are into ancient history and love thrills and knowledgeable books this is highly recommended. My rating would be a 3.5 on 5 for this one. 

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books!

Book Review : Confessionally Yours

Confessionally Yours by Jhoomur Bose is an excellent read. It is a story of Polly who deals with a Hitler like boss who piles on loads of work on her and thinks she is incapable of writing any good article, she deals with the most annoying Mother In Law (I felt like jumping in the book and hitting her, I tell u) who comes visiting and stays on like glue stuck on ur bottom, nor can u move nor can you sit there all your life, she deals with her husband who gets back with his ex-girlfriend, she deals with a friend who finds her very tame and it gets you wondering if she really is a friend......

I had no clue how this book would be and had picked it up on impulse but now I don't regret it. I was glued to the book to know what happens next and next and next before I knew I had finished reading and it left me thinking... The author has wonderfully created characters in this intense feminine story with a little humor a little sarcasm and a little bit of reality.

The way the story shapes up, from Polly being a pushover to a strong person if very interesting. This book stands out as a good one time read. 

Book Review : The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk

The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk....by Sudha Murthy, I was so excited to see the book on my library shelf...picked it up and rushed home to start on it straight away....for those who dont know I love all of Sudha Murthy's books and her writing. It is a pleasure reading her simple yet meaningful stories.

This book has stories from her real life experience and one can learn lessons from it too....most of her stories are such. The book is a collection of 23 short stories, the title being one of the stories.

I really cant pick a favourite one cause all of them are lovely. The way Sudha Murthy writes all of her stories are so interesting and this one is a real treat with life lessons and incidents where we all would feel that we have come across similar situations. In today's fast moving world where Morales and Values take a backseat this book kind of tones you down and helps you looks at life in a different yet meaningful way.

Highly recommended without doubt....suitable for all age :)

Book Review : In the Sea there are Crocodiles

In the Sea there are Crocodiles by Fabia Geda is a true story of an Afghan boy, Enaiatollah Akbari's journey in search of safety....in search of home. Fabio Geda is an Italian novelist who works with children in difficulties. He writes for several Italian magazines and newspapers, and teaches creative writing in the most famous Italian school of storytelling (Scuola Holden, in Turin). This is his first book to be translated into English.

When Enaiatollah's village in Afghanistan falls prey to Taliban rule, his mother in desperate attempt to save him from being a slave or worst be killed takes him away across the border into Pakistan but leaves him there all alone to fend for himself after giving him an advice : don't use drugs or weapons, don't cheat, don't steal. 

From here begins Enaiat's heartbreaking journey of pain and torture filled with traffickers, hunger, border patrols, freezing, drowning, casualties, dangerous circumstances where he could almost get killed. He journeys through Iran, Turkey and Greece before he seeks political asylum in Italy at the age of fifteen.

This impressive account will keep you wanting to know more about Enaiat's life. I was quite amazed by the strong determination of the boy to keep moving on and finding safe ground. He was a small boy when his mother left him and at that age to be so smart enough and take life turning decisions is something hard to believe...but it did happen and that what makes this book a great read. An incredible uplifting story which makes you believe that where there is a will there is a way. Highly recommended.

Book Review: The Diary of a Social Butterfly

If you want a good laughter then The Diary of a Social Butterfly by Moni Mohsin is what you should lay your hands on. This is a difficult to keep down book filled with humor and silliness...

The book is a diary of a silly socialite called Butterfly who is completely unfazed by the happenings around her. All she cares about is her parties, get together (GT as she calls them), shopping, trips to London....Each of her diary entry begins with two contrasting headings, a political heading and another one to her own self. The constant misspellings and incorrect pronunciations in her diary are the one's to watch out for. It completely changes the meaning of the sentence and leaves you laughing out loud. I loved the way the conversations go between her and her husband Janoo...poor guy.

This is definitely a light read and will surely lighten up your mood. The book is inspired from the collection of the author’s own columns written for Pakistan’s national weekly, The Friday Times. 

Book Review: Custody by Manju Kapoor

Custody by Manju Kapoor touches the delicate and emotional issue that follows divorce.

Raman and Shagun, a couple with two children have a peaceful life going until Shagun meets Raman's boss Ashok. Raman has to travel constantly being the marketing head and trying to promote his company's products. At the same time his boss and his beautiful wife get involved in a passionate affair leading to Shagun trying to find the meaning of her life. She ask Raman for a divorce and moves out of the house. When Raman refuses a divorce she takes away the only beautiful aspect in his life.....the children.

At the same time somewhere else, Ishita a young divorcee tries to find happiness in her social work. She was divorced and forgotten by her once-so-loving husband because she could not bear a child for the family. She happens to meet Raman and his little daughter and gets attracted towards him to fulfill her desire of having a family and children. She falls in love with his daughter as if she were her own.

Then starts the ugly battle of custody where both the kids are torn apart from each other....their emotional state being confused between two families, two mothers and two countries...

This is one of the best of Manju Kapoor and the way she has handled such a delicate issue is commendable.

Book Review: Intermission & To Live Once Again

Intermission by Nirupama Subramanian is one of the books I read in the last two weeks and I yet dont understand why the title. The rating for this one would be average. Its just another extra marital affair story....nothing great about it and nothing in particular that will make you feel "wow" about it. The story is about a forty four year old man Varun who is a father to a sixteen year old and has fallen for Sweety who is a young mother. They emotionally connect with each other and then get physically involved as well. And then starts the hushed meetings, behaving like a teenager.....everything that a person does when he says he is in love.

The writing style of the author is good. This is her second book the first one being Keep the change which I have not yet read. There is nothing much I would like to say about this book only that I didnt enjoy it much as there was nothing new to it.

The next one I read was To Live Once Again by Jayanti Anubhav which is a cute looking book because of its size. Its just 136 pages and I finished it pretty soon. Its a story about two girls Yamini and Lavanya who have a rather troubled childhood and find solace in each others in the friendship that blossoms between them when they meet at a boarding school. They become best of friends sharing everything..... until one day they find out that they have shared too much.

Though its a book of few pages the author has not failed to describe every character, every emotion and every place with such beautiful detailing and all this packed into that small little book makes the story very convincing. Being a debut novel for the author Jayanti I must say she has done a good job and this is an excellent read!!! And yes, the title is so apt !!!  :)

Book Review: Nick of Time & Ladies Coupe

If you are looking for complete bollywood masala then this is the book you should read. It has everything in it....best friends, love triangle, typical punjabi shaadi.....and of course the masala.

Komal Mehta in her debut novel, Nick of Time, has done her best to give us a fun filled book that you would enjoy reading. I liked the book, being a rom-com fan that I am and I did feel that I was watching a movie.

Its a well written story that revolves around 3 childhood friends Shagun, Alehya and Vicky and I cant really call it a love triangle cause its just a triangle....and why do I call it that, well you will get to know once you have read the book.

The story begins with Alehya quitting her job and getting a call from her best friend Shagun who tells her that she is getting married and wants her to come to Chandigarh asap. Little does she know that this trip would be a life turning point for her.

After reading this fun book I turned to my next pick Ladies Coupe by Anita Nair. The story of a woman's search for strength and independence and very important....the search for an answer to the most asked question, " Can a woman stay alone and yet be happy?"....

The story is about Akhila a forty-five year old who has never had the liberty to live her OWN life...always the daughter, the sister, the provider....until one day she decides to take on a journey with a one way ticket to Kanyakumari in search of answers to her questions. During her journey in the Ladies Coupe she meets different women who share their life stories with her and she tries to draw her answers whilst she listens to them and slips back and forth into the memories of the incidents of her life.

I completely loved the book and it is a must read....the author Anita Nair has such good sense of putting life into each character. Each story is so intense and finely drawn that it would be difficult to put down the book once you have begun. 

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Oh those childhood days.....

Childhood days the best days in the life of any individual.....those carefree days...the much awaited summer vacation...the thought of visiting Grandma and listening to her fascinating stories. Well who didn't love those days and getting a chance to re-visit them in today's stressful life is simply a bliss.

I was lucky enough to get a chance to re-visit those days...in my thoughts! And you can too, If you happen to pick up Sudha Murthy's latest book Grandma's Bag of Stories.

I have almost read all of her books and Sudha Murthy has a knack of keeping you glued to her books given her simple and straight forward writing style.

Mahashweta, Gently falls the Bakula, The Old man and his god and now Grandma's bag of stories are my favorite among the books written by her.

Grandma's bag of stories has been released at the right time being the summer vacation and most children looking for some fun activity. I would highly recommend this book to all parents who want to keep their kids busy with some good reading and help them enjoy some delightful stories with subtle moral lessons. And this not only pertains to children, even grown up's like me who like short simple stories can read this and re-visit their childhood days :)

Happy Summers and Happy Reading :)

Friends....your spice in life

How much is said and written about relationships. Today when I look around I have so many people who know me who are really good friends but there are just a few of them who really really know me and these are the people who I can really count on whenever I need them. 

In life we meet many a kind but it is always necessary to have someone whom you can share stuff or moreover could just meet and laugh away those sad feelings away that life bestows upon us. Life is not perfect always there are ups and downs and how you look at them is all that matters. You can either see them as a bumpy ride in one of those back breaking vehicles or you can see them as a joy ride which you will enjoy till the end.

I have a wonderful set of friends with whom I can share anything and laugh away till our tummy hurts and we have tears in our eyes. I love these people and cherish them. I have had bad people in my life as well, I say bad is because I hate it when people treat you like you are born for their convenience. They soon forget or rather dont even realise what all you do for them and then they try to take a walk on you. Trust me its better to throw such people out of your life the moment you see such signs. You rather be alone and happy than be with such people and hurt yourself.

I dont like to keep grudges cause people do what they have to do. All I do is forget....yes I forget that such people exist in the world. It is rightly said "Be the change you want to see"...so when I cant change a person its better I change and move on. 

There are many people who have lost friends, people who have walked out of their lives without any rhyme or reason...are such people really worth calling friends? When they can easily forget the time you both spent with each other how wonderful the friendship was then I think its best you too do the same...forget. I know some people say its difficult to forget and saying such things are easy but trust me I have gone through the same and within a few days I was back on track to my smiley self. There is no point in wasting time on such people.

I had been wanting to write this post for sometime cause I consider my blog this great canvas where I can vent my feelings and paint it with all the colours I want. 

Relationships or Friendships are very delicate, if let loose they can slip away or if held tight they will snap and break away. Enjoy your life you have just one after all. 

Book review : Losing my virginity and other dumb ideas...

Losing my virginity and other dumb ideas...that's the book i last read. Written by Madhuri Banerjee this book is a tad different from those typical love-romance stories where the end is too predictable.

It is a good light read, on how a women struggles with her inner voice and changes her thoughts and values to give away something she has been treasuring for so long....her virginity. From being a person who was saving up her virginity to give it away as a wedding gift to her "The Great Love" to being a person who now didnt think twice before connecting with a person and sharing "intimate moments" this book has it all...love, lust and all the masala that it needs.

Falling in love with a married man, being trapped emotionally with him and finally moving out of the relation a stronger person, Kaveri the protagonist finally decides to live her life the way she wants to. She does try to associate every relationship she has since then to LOVE....that is loving herself.

For me the book was just a light read and nothing more, though I was eager to finish it to know what was the climax. If she does find her "The Great Love" or not....well you have to read the book for that and I wont consider that to be a dumb idea :)