Reviews & Musings

Introduction ·          ISBN - 9381576394 ·          Genre: Fiction ·          Publishers: Leadstart Publishing ·          Price: Rs. 250/- ( I got this book from the publishers for a review ) Arjuna as a character has always fascinated me. If given a choice between Ramayana and Mahabharata I would always choose the later purely for him. His dedication, his vision, strength, ability to look beyond the usual, grit and most importantly his thoughts had me impressed since the first time ever that I read this. When I was offered this book the first thought that came to my mind was WOW, finally some Indian author has managed to write about the ultimate hero ( that’s how I see him) and yes I had to read it. Behind The book Source: Google Images Arjuna: Saga Of A Pandava Warrior-Prince is about Arjuna, his life, achievements, challenges and thoughts and how his decisions affect the fate of the characters in the Mahabharata.

Introduction ·          ISBN - 978-8-18400-450-2 ·          Genre: Non fiction ·          Publishers: Random House India ·          Price: Rs. 299/- ( I got this book from the publishers for a review ) The first thing that attracted me to this book was its author. He is ninety two years old and I have always wanted to live to be a hundred. I admire such people purely for the knowledge and experience they would have gained. My respect for the author just multiplied manifolds as I kept turning page after page of this book in awe. Behind The book Source: Google Images “A vivid, evocative fable of Buddha;’s life, with a strong spiritual element and wisdom to it.” Bapsi Sidhwa

Introduction ·          ISBN - 9788184004045 ·          Genre: Non fiction ·          Publishers: Leadstart Publishers ·          Price: Rs. 399/- ( I got this book from the publishers for a review ) In everything that we do in life the winners are always talked about. Who won, by how many runs, how did that person win, who took the winning goal, whose strategy it was, who made the victory possible – it’s always about the winners. Nobody ever wants to talk about the losers, how are they feeling why they failed and what has made them realize their mistakes. The first thing that caught my attention was the blurb of this book where the author has mentioned it is about the loser. It piqued my curiosity making me want to read this book. Behind The book   Source: Google Images

In life we pray for a lot of things. Some of them come true, some don't. While there are moments when God says no and gives us something better, there are also moments when God simply smiles and says AMEN. Sharing one such moment with you :

Introduction ·          ISBN - 978-0-473-17480-4 ·          Genre: Fiction ·          Publishers: Southpac Publishers ·          Price: Rs. 350/- ( I got this book from Blog Adda for a review ) The title is an attitude - our tendency to feel defeated by the scale and nature of certain problems. Rather than meet them head on, we circumvent them with a sigh and a consoling “never mind, yaar”. When long time friends Binaifer Desai and Louella D’Costa meet Shalini Dayal at Gyan Shakti College, a true friendship that transcends cultural and religious backgrounds is born. Louella is a Christian, Binaifer, a Parsi and Shalini, a Hindu. The novel’s main plotline surrounds Shalini who has fallen for an impetuous student activist, Bhagu. Where does his desire to help the less fortunate lead him? The challenges are many - Shalini’s tradition bound family, the couple’s youth and inexperience and the travails of life in Mumbai, a city the girls love but know, is fraug

Introduction ·          ISBN - 9788184004045 ·          Genre: Non fiction ·          Publishers: Random   House ·          Price: Rs. 399/- ( I got this book from the publishers for a review )  I have been a huge admirer of Rhonda Byrne and her books The Secret and The Magic as they re-emphasize on my belief that each one of us is born unique with special talents. It is just a matter of time that we recognize it and un-leash our true power. This book also belongs to the same category where the authors have talked about having a hidden super star within us and have also discussed how to bring it out. Behind The book Source: Google Images   A thoroughly engaging and enjoyable book which delves deep into the human psyche and the superstar resident within each one of us. – Naina Lal Kidwai, President, FICCI and Country Head India & Director Asia Pacific, HSBC

Source: Google Images I would firstly like to thank the author Rajdeep Paulus for sending across her book Swimming through the clouds for a review.  It’s been a while I read a YA fiction and it was thoroughly refreshing reading her book. I had began to avoid YA fiction off late as they seemed to be having the same track and were beginning to drain me as I read them. But this book was different from the usual YA books that are floating around. The characters seem to be so real that at some points I cringed with them, shed copious tears and smiled seeing them happy. 

Introduction ·          ISBN -978-81-8495-434-0 ·          Genre: Fiction ·          Publishers: Jaico House ·          Price: Rs. 275/- ( I got this book from the publishers for a review ) Sherlock Holmes was one of those first novels which I had read and thoroughly enjoyed. Usually I avoided such genre till then but Sherlock Holmes made me fall in love with mystery and detective series. He was my first hero whom I really idolized in many ways. There has always been a mystery that is attached to his lost years during which the world had assumed to be dead. This book’s title was enough to get me hooked to it wanting to know what exactly my hero was up to! Behind The book Source: Google Images   From the Fertile Crescent to the Far Fast, the untold adventures of Sherlock Holmes during the three year gap between his”death” and dramatic return

Introduction ·    ISBN - 81/7224/5017 ·    Publishers: Jaico House      Price: Rs. 275/- ( I got this book from the publishers for a review ) I have always believed that we possess the power within us to do wonders. It is just a matter of time that we unearth those powers and unleash them to get the desired results. I had read about the chakras very much in our ancient scriptures. This prompted me to try reading this book and understand the power I was holding within me. Behind The book   Source: Google Images

Introduction ·          ISBN -9788182534124 ·          Genre: Fiction ·          Publishers: Cyberwit.net ·          Price: Rs. 200/- ( I got this book from the author   for a review ) It is a rare thing to have the financial advisor of Government of Rajasthan write a book on existentialist philosophies and even rarer to be requested to review it. It is truly an honour to read this and review it on my blog. Behind The book   Source: Google Images

P.S : This is one of my first ever clicks and hence very special for me, sharing it to revive some old memories.

Introduction ·         ISBN -978-8-184-00178-5 ·        Genre: Fiction ·         Publishers: Random House ·         Price: Rs. 125/- ( I got this book from the publishers for a review ) I have reviewed a book   previously by the author and have really liked his work. It made me want to read more works from the same author.So when I saw this one in Random House’s list I knew I had to grab this one. Behind The book Source: Google Images Getting rave reviews from readers – Hindustan Times

As a part of this contest I visited Women Entrepreneurs website and out of all the ones listed there the one that caught my attention was Ms. Neha Gandhi - the founder of Matsya . Read on to know why, who, when and how:

I truly admire my fellow bloggers who have turned authors for that is one giant leap for them and it also feel truly encouraging to read their work. I have followed Rickie’s writings for quite some time now surely for the creativity he has and they unique narrative style that he brings along in this work which is distinctively his. The moment I came to know that he had written a book, I knew I had to read it.   I enjoyed reading his work which was a reflection of his wit and humour.  Source: Google Images Firstly the concept of the book is so refreshingly different that it made me wonder what made his write something like this. It is like rewriting history in itself. But then Rickie is known to try his hand at different things and present them in a beautiful manner that you are left gasping at its sheer brilliance.  It is a quick and easy read, not to forget thoroughly enjoyable as well. The beauty of this whole thing is everything that one could have thought of if

Today we come to an end of the 7 day festival at Write Tribe. Despite everything I still managed to write everyday though once again the only thing is I was not able to comment and visit as much as I would have loved to . I usually take part in such festivals to make new connections, meet newer people and read some more wonderful blogs. But unfortunately during such festivals I am surrounded by such a mess that just surviving through it seems like a mammoth task to me. Phew enough of my cribbing. Every time I feel low I count my blessings and as today I am sad about so many things ( End of this festival, me not writing enough, me not commenting enough etc etc...) I think I should do that right now: My first blessing - I am hale and hearty (touchwood!) though my health did try to play a bit of games with me, but in the end I won and today am jumping back to normalcy. Second blessing - I am loved, genuinely by a handful of people for all that I am. And that is surely a bless

In life we all have been through lot of ups and downs which make us what we are. In the process of knowing and accepting people around us we tend to compromise a lot of ourselves. Few years back I realised how wrong I was in doing that and hence had made seven promises to myself : I promise  Never let others judge me. Never let others be reckless with my heart Not to bear with people who seem to be bearing me To remember that I am worth every good thing in this world. To remember I deserve to be loved, respected and cared for. Not let anyone / anything take away my right to existence. Never let anyone trample on my feelings or belittle my dreams. When I made them I somehow felt scared that I cannot live upto them. But today almost a year and a half after I made them I realised I have done fairly well for myself. I have let go of a few painful relationships from my life, removed some friends who were no good and yes made myself more worthier by these reminders. Have

A  mother or an author is not supposed to have favourites. But these favourites are not as a writer. They are as a reader for when I read them I feel its not me who has written them. It's just not Me.... It's another me another layer of my soul, a fragment of my imagination, a piece of my heart which could do this and I don't know it will do it again when!

Introduction ·          ISBN -978-81-925354-4-9 ·         Genre: Fiction ·          Publishers: Vitasta Publishing ·          Price: Rs. 195/- ( I got this book from Blog Adda for a review ) Teenage is an age when there are so many changes that happen in our lives - blame it on hormones, peer pressure, friends and the eternal thing LOVE that happens to most of the teenagers in this age. It also leads to confusion, loads of mistakes , some wrong decisions and yes a life long repent. I am an eternal romantic and hence the name Love is Vodka made this book a sure shot read for me so when it was there in Blog Adda for review I had to grab it with both hands! Behind The book   Source: Google Images Will she decipher the true meaning of love?

Source: Google Images Generally I am a birthday lover but when it comes to my own birthdays I am very uncomfortable celebrating it for various reasons. I refrain from much of a celebration and usually let this day pass without any hullaballoo.   But this year I was pleasantly surprised when I received the most wonderful birthday gifts I could have ever asked for. And icing on the cake was it came from absolute strangers who made it the BESTEST birthday ever possible for me. Blogging has surely opened up doors to a wonderful new world where complete strangers are wonderful friends now and who perhaps know me more than my real friends for they read what I write. And writing more often than not brings out my inner most feelings which I find difficult to share in person otherwise. Some lovely bloggers brightened by birthday making me feel extra special so much so that today their gifts are the oxygen I dive into anytime I feel low. The 7 most cherished gifts I have recei