Reviews & Musings

As a reader, it is extremely important to read vastly before you finally conclude what you like reading in terms of authors and genres. I started like that too and realised that I love reading. Period. There is no barrier to genres, authors or languages. Even with such a vast option of books to choose from, I had reached a phase where I felt I was getting too mechanical with my reading. I mean read because its a habit, know the story and end of it.

Introduction Source: Amazon.in ISBN:  978-1509839551 Genre: Fiction/YA Publishers: Pan Macmillan India Price:  Rs. 399/-  

Introduction Source: Amazon.com ISBN:  978-8129147691 Genre: Non-Fiction/ Memoir Publishers: Rupa Publications Price:  Rs. 295/-  ( I got the book for review from the  publishe r )

Introduction Source: Goodreads.com ISBN:  978-0735212480 Genre:   Fiction / Thriller / Medical Publishers: Pan Macmillan India Price:  Rs. 599/-  ( I got an ARC from the  publishe r )

Introduction ISBN: 978-1781326220 Genre: Sci-fi Publishers: SilverWood Books Ltd Price:  Rs.192/-  ( I got the book for review from b00k r3vi3w ) Step into a high-tech vision of the future with author of Quantum Confessions and Fluence Stephen Oram. Featuring health-monitoring mirrors, tele-empathic romances and limb-repossessing bailiffs, Eating Robots explores the collision of utopian dreams and twisted realities in a world where humanity and technology are becoming ever more intertwined. Sometimes funny, often unsettling, and always with a word of warning, these thirty sci-fi shorts will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page. Behind the Book Source: Goodreads.com

On a usual tropical evening in Mumbai I had the pleasure of being at CSMVS where Anil Dharker and Amit Chaudhuri were in conversation over the latter’s new release, Friend of my Youth. With an ethereal sunset at the Arabian Sea adorning its beige textured cover; this book is a short and crisp novella revolving around friendship and childhood memories in the city of dreams – Mumbai. 

Introduction ISBN:  978-9384067571 Genre: Non-Fiction /Spirituality Publishers: Rupa Price:  Rs.195/-  ( I got the book for review from the publisher ) Autobiography of a Yogi is the story of the life of Paramahansa Yogananda (January 5, 1893–March 7, 1952) first published in 1946. Born as Mukunda Lal Ghosh in Gorakhpur, India, into a Bengali family, this book takes the reader on a journey into the life of Paramahansa Yogananda and his encounters with spiritual figures of both the East and West. Beginning from his childhood, his family life, to finding his guru and becoming a monk and establishing his teachings of Kriya Yoga meditation, this book allows the reader to see the spiritual yearning of the man and how he realizes that over the years. It draws on both his personal experiences—anecdotes and meetings with eminent spiritual personalities, his association with nineteenth-century master Lahiri Mahasaya who had prophesied the writing of this book—as well a...

-Introduction-- ISBN:  978-9384067571 Genre: Non-Fiction / Dogs Publishers: Aleph Price:  Rs.350/-  ( I got the book for review from the publisher ) The Book of Indian Dogs is the first comprehensive book on Indian dog breeds in over fifty years. It features the twenty-five breeds that most breeders and dog fanciers agree constitute the country’s canine heritage. Divided into three groupings—working dogs, companion dogs and hounds—the book provides detailed background notes to each breed, along with information on its physical characteristics, behavior, uses, origins and history. Along with popular breeds like Caravan hounds (or Karuvanis), Chippiparais, Mudhol hounds, Pashmis, Rajapalayams and Rampur hounds the book also features lesser known breeds such as the Alaknoori and the Jonangi. The fruit of several years of travel and research into India’s dog breeds, as well as S. Theodore Baskaran’s hands-on experience of raising various dogs, this celebration of ...

Introduction ISBN:  978-1633933088 Genre: Fiction / Women Publishers: Koehler Books Price: $18.93/-  ( I got the book for review from b00k r3vi3ws ) Alexandria Moreno--clever, sexy, ambitious and, at times, self-destructive. She blazes a path from Texas to Los Angeles at the dawn of the 1980s to make her dreams of becoming an A-list Hollywood film director come true. She and her best friend arrive in Los Angeles with little more than hope and the determination to make it big. Alex, a beauty as dark and mysterious as her scarred heart, stands at the bottom of the Hollywood mountain looking up, fighting for her chance to climb to the top. Will her quest to live fast and take no prisoners on her way to success destroy her in the end? All That Glitters is a women's fiction Jackie Collins-type saga that introduces a strong, driven Latina heroine at the center of a rags-to-riches story spanning a decade of action. Along the way, Alexandria walks the fine line separating...

Introduction ISBN:  978-8193324806 Genre: Fiction /Romance Publishers: Maple Press Price:  Rs.195/-  ( I got the book for review from the author ) "When Siddharth, a lonely young man with a failed marriage gets a sudden phone-call from a mysterious person about his lost childhood lover, Hazel, and learns that she is battling for life, he is shaken to the core. He also learns that she had left certain letters for him fifteen years back that never reached him. It disturbs him so much that he rushes to the hospital in his old hometown. There he discovers an eclipsed past buried in time that is riddled with dangerous surprises, trauma, twists of fate, sacrifices that exemplify true love and the real reasons for the tragic end of their childhood love story. But will Hazel ever open her eyes to see him..." Behind the Book Source: Amazon.in

-Introduction-- ISBN:  978-81-291-4522-2 Genre: -Non-Fiction /Historical Publishers: Rupa Books Price:  Rs.195/-  ( I got the book for review from the publisher ) Women Warriors in Indian History explores the life of ten Indian women warriors as narrated by other historical characters. While Italian traveller Marco Polo recounts the story of his contemporary Queen Rudramba, Emperor Jahangir narrates the tale of Durgavati to his future consort. Legendary Tatya Tope unfolds Avantibai’s heroics to Lakshmi Bai and the eunuch General Malik Kafur regales a young sultan with Raziya Sultana’s exploits. Put together chronologically, from the slave dynasty to the first war of Indian independence, these stories showcase the changing canvas of Indian history. More importantly, the narratives bring forward the exceptional qualities of these women warriors, while fighting against gender, social, religious and political odds and oppositions. They prove that women are unequivo...

Introduction ASIN:  B01NAYCFVG Genre: Non Fiction / Finance Publishers: Amazon Price:  Rs.332/-  ( I got the book for review from b00k r3vi3ws ) Seven original exercises that will change your relationship with money and open you to wealth. The mental images and ideas we have about money determine our possible wealth. From the day you were born, you have passively absorbed positive and negative ideas about money from your family, society and the media. Reprogramming your unconscious is the best tool to change your reality. Realize what your inner money programming is and change it to reach new levels of success and fulfillment. Re-program your unconscious and see the results in your bank account. Millionaire Training offers a fascinating perspective on the way money has been perceived throughout history, and how that influences your financial ability today. This breakthrough in the field of moneymaking will radically change your perception and open you to ne...

As a reviewer I come across many instances when I am asked, “ Please recommend a good read .” Though it does sound very flattering for me this question in itself is a bit unnerving. For me reading is a very personal thing to an extent that I am very possessive about my books. When someone asks me this my first reaction is that of surprise and then my mind starts analyzing. What do I recommend now, does she seem to be someone who would like romance? What if I recommend something and she finds it too dumb for her taste, will it make her judge me based on that and worse will she judge my reviews as well? Source: Google Images

Source:  www.murtylibrary.com

Today my blog completes 5 years! Source: The Gospel Coalition Blog 1300 posts - 366 book reviews- 180 author interviews - 150 guest posts and still counting. The journey has been enthralling for sure. This blog is one place where all that I have asked for has come true. From starting it as a hobby to being a reviewer for all leading publishing houses, from growing up reading their books like a fangirl to getting their books for review it is all still surreal. I still jump in air like a kid whenever I get a wonderful book for review. It is like being introduced to a friend for a lifetime, someone who is going to be there forever. To mark this occasion I am sharing some of the best books I read in 2016 with snippets and links to my reviews in no particular order. They are simply put - THE BEST and the numbers next to them are serial numbers and not their ranks. If you have missed any of these please do read them, they are a treasure to dive into. If you have read them w...

Introduction ISIN:  9788129141972 Genre: Fiction / Romance Publishers: Rupa Publishers Price:  Rs. 195/- ( I got this book from the publisher for a review ) Love is in the air again…and this time it’s steamy, bold and manipulative! Gayatri, a rich, spoiled diva, is fighting to establish herself even as her tyrant father pushes her into a life not of her choice. Viraj is a genius and a con who shuns society and its hypocrisies. Gayatri sees Viraj only as a means to an end. For Viraj, Gayatri is the epitome of all that he despises. So when their paths cross, it is a battle of feisty wills and desire. Will Gayatri and Viraj prove to be each other’s salvation or annihilation? From the best-selling author of Right Fit Wrong Shoe and Wrong Means Right End comes Rightfully Wrong Wrongfully Right. All the unforgettable characters of the earlier two bestsellers make a comeback in this unforgettable story of hurt, hearts and hope. This is a tumultuous journey of tw...