I know its been a while since I have posted anything. But I am back with book reviews. The first one for 2021 is Home Body by Rupi Kaur.

As we all know Rupi Kaur, her thought provoking Instagram posts. Her live sessions and the previous two books being a hit. Everyone had their eyes on this book. I was eagerly waiting for this book since the day she started promoting about it.

Title – The title of the book is great. According to me, Home Body means your inner self.

Cover- The cover has Rupi’s cover art illustration and it was meaningful which I liked it. The color choice of the cover is okayish but I don’t judge the book by its cover.

About the Book- This book is about her, her experiences, personal choices and some general topics like sexual assault, rape, capitalism etc through which she wants to share her inner turmoils and emotions. The book is divided into 4 parts (which gives clarity of her write ups. I cannot call her pieces as poetry, verses, haiku because she has also used one liners like

“my body renews itself in waves of ocean and blood”

Her other piece talks about home

i dive into the well of my body

and end up in another world

everything i need

already exists in me

there’s no need

to look anywhere else

– home

After reading this book, I was kind of disappointed. This book is a one time read. If you are looking for a critical poetry or a proper poetry then this book is not your choice. This book is nowhere related to poetry. You can call it a self help.

The only thing that worked well was her marketing. I am not against her as I am reading her for the first time. It is my opinion which is completely based on my book review experience. I have read many poetry books, self help books, short stories, novels, novellas, journals. This book is just random scribbling which worked at some places and it didn’t at some pieces.

I have given her 2 stars.

About the Author

As a 21-year-old university student Rupi wrote, illustrated and self-published her first poetry collection, milk and honey. Next came its artistic sibling, the sun and her flowers. These collections have sold over 8 million copies and have been translated into over 42 languages. Her most recent book, home body, debuted #1 on bestsellers lists across the world. Rupi’s work touches on love, loss, trauma, healing, femininity, and migration. She feels most at home when creating art or performing her poetry on stage.

You can grab the copy if you want from rupi’s website

#rupikaur #rupikaurpoetry #bookreview #memoir #InternationalPoet #Homebody #Milkandhoney #thesunandherflowers #Sur1826

SHIVANI BHARDWAJ(Miss MOtivator)

I have named you Miss MOtivator and you, always wonder why I did that. To be honest, Shiv I never came to know when you entered that closed door of my soul. I cannot tell you exactly  why I adore you so much and love you amongst all( secret revealed :p) When I met you I was mesmerised by your simplicity and those not so big dreams. You just wanted a simple life and your all the time enlightened talks about spirituality were completely different from me. You know what, a person like Surbhi Sareen who is nowhere around this segment actually wanted to be round your life. Life seemed to be changed around you.  You used to tell me to find myself through meditation. Meditation and SUrbhi Sareen? Are you kidding me girl? Are you insane? I mean what made you think that I will do that ever! You won! Bingo! You actually made me do that and after three long years, I am confessing this to you.  Yes Shiv, I secretly do the meditation everyday and will do that forever because I feel connected to you.

This connection grew so strong that I want to laugh at those jokes with you, I want to smile admiring your peaceful smile, I want to dance with you at those bhangra beats,  I want to make those crafty cards with you, I want to cry with you at your sorrows, I want to make your life a bed of roses. I know that is not true and will never happen because roses do have thorns. Happiness and Sadness are part of life which we have to accept. SHiv, trust me I actually listen to your words and keep your advises in my heart.  I know I always behave that I am going to ignore that stupid advise but secretly I follow it. When we had our first ever fight, you told me to shut my stupid mouth and now I am practising it hard as you know I can go on blabbering my whole life. I still remember when you used to talk to me alone and preach me, how I need to accept the facts and move on with life, how I need to concentrate on my career, how I can become an independent woman, how I can improve myself. I know you genuinely care for me and will always do. And yesterday also, when you advised me how I should concentrate on my life,I actually brushed away your ideas because I was getting senti at that time, because now I wont be getting those bundle of advises, those taunts, those angry orders,

” Zindagi mei aage badhna hai to chup reh, sabki sun or fir react kar”

I need to tell you something very important( now don’t get serious, its not too serious, just a fact I found out.) I feel your peaceful smile is lost. I never got the chance to say that because I guess I am not that strong to confront you face to face. Your dad’s demise not only affected you, it affected me too. Why? Because when you lost your lifeline, I lost my lifeline too, your peaceful smile that always take me to a world of peace and trance. I know when someone dies, its hard to live without them but we can’t stop living. I know you are handling the things alone and there is alot on your plate to handle which I might not be knowing because you don’t want to trouble me.  I respect you what you are doing. But one thing can come back, it might take time but try to find it: Your peaceful smile and trust me, I can sacrifice anything to get that back. I will always be there to listen to you. I am just a call away. ANd I am super vala sorry if I ever made you cry or hurt you. You know na, I am completely gone person. SO forgive me. I really love you my jaan. You gave me a new perspective of life and I will always keep it safe in my heart.

This is your pagal si saheli signing off.. will be back with more such interesting posts..stay happy..stay strong and remember that, I love dher sara..<3

As Francis Bacon quoted: “Some books are meant to be tasted, others to be swallowed and some few to be digested.” In this context, I would like to add: “There are some books which make you cry, whereas some books, which act as a happy hour therapy for your mind.” I feel Biswajit Banerji’s Happimess is a happiness therapy for all.

In the current Covid scenario where people have started getting depressed by being at home, this book adds peace in the minds of the reader. The tickling 13 stories not only adds humour but also makes the reader feel fresh. The author has made people laugh through its writings which is no lesser than a miracle.

According to the blurb,” Happimess is a collection of naughty stories that make us laugh while constantly poking fun at social peculiarities. Narrated mostly in the first person, the stories center around everyday situations that get oddly tangled up. Once frantic efforts are made to wriggle out, things only get more messy. Flippant and irreverent, the net of satire is cast wide, spanning conspiring home-appliances, outlandish diseases, nosy insurance agents, die-hard hagglers, a botched farewell speech and the like. It is the constant undercurrent of funny disorderliness that serves to spice-up and unite the stories.”

Biswajit has incorporated satirical fiction, mockery in his writing style. His collection of stories is written in first person where he talks about the stigmas of modern society in a satirical way. He is mocking at this kind of society without hurting the sentiments of people.

Further, Biswajit’s writing style reminds me of Alexander Pope’s ‘An Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot’ where the poet talks about his friend but in disguised way he is mocking at the society of his time, especially his fellow writers who used to criticize him. But here, the author has given birth to a new type of writing technique which is an amalgamation of satire, mockery, fun, lyrical.

Talking about the title, he has cleverly chosen “Happimess” which is misspelled form of Happiness. But this title is the beauty of the author who has smartly stole the attention of a person who wants to pick his book.

The author has left an essence of him in some of his stories. Especially, the Bengali innuendoes gives us an insight about his roots. He is a simple man who is trying to reach people using the most genuine ways. He has connected with his audience naturally through his stories. Some of the stories like ‘from Bad to Sordid’; A Matter of Life (insurance) and Death; With Due Respect To’ self respect’ are well constructed stories of day to day paraphernalias which are closely observed by the author. His 13 pieces are a result of well craftsmanship which the author has beautifully bestowed upon his stories.

In nutshell, I would like to say that Biswajit Banerji’s Happimess is a must-read book as it is lighthearted, entertaining, simple and has a literal meaning for the society.

About the Author

Biswajit is a prolific humorist and author of hundreds of bestsellers- all in his dreams. In reality, this is his debut book.

His satirical ramblings, poetry and travel writing have been published accidentally in several literary journals, periodical and websites. For a living, Biswajit serves in a senior position in a leading Public Sector steel unit.

You can buy his from Amazon.in

But why do we need restrictions in the world of art? We are already trapped with so many restrictions, it is better if we don’t have any in here. As less the restrictions, the more expressive an artist or writer can be. But that’s only an imagination for now. Keeping this in mind, I would like to introduce you to a series named “Stories Beyond Hatred” where we will be discussing novels and stories which landed into controversies and we will be revisiting them with a new perspective altogether outlooking the criticism it faced.

Check out the list:

Lolita

From an artistic point of view, Lolita is considered to be a Masterpiece. Written by Vladimir Nabakov this engaging story was appreciated by literature lovers especially for it’s dark humour plot. But the novel landed into controversy as it portrayed sexual relationship between a much older man and a teenage girl. Many of the reviews named it “the filthiest book I have ever read,” and “sheer, unrestrained pornography.” But revisiting it from the literary view will make you understand why this is a honest piece of art as well as a mirror to the society.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

This novel by Mark Twain faced heavy criticism as readers felt that the story was too sugar-coated towards Jim, Huck’s family slave. Also Twain was accused of creating racial stereotypes around Jim. But the novel is still loved by many people as they consider it is an important reflection of the social atmosphere of its time. And this perspective can’t be out looked.

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee tried to portray the story ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by using offensive language as he thought it will do justice to the story. Also, it openly talked about racism, rape and violence. Back in 1960s, many school boards banned the book for being immoral. But it was the need of a writer and the world he created inspired from true stories, hence the novel also won a Pulitzer award.

So it’s better to reconsider some stories beyond hatred. Share your views in the comment box below and stay tuned for more such interesting write-ups.

 

Print Length: 168 pages

Publisher: Flaming Sun (Indie published)

Publication Date: March 1, 2020

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC

Language: English

Genre: Romance

 

Young Arjun feels betrayed and heartbroken when his girlfriend of two years dies in an accident. In a moment of agony, he does the worst thing possible…

 

Ten years later, Kiara walks into the office of the Mathur Group of industries, falling for its managing director, Arjun Mathur, who is a ruthless businessman nowadays, and also completely sworn off women.

 

While the ethical hacker gathers evidence against the ex-finance director of the company who has been swindling money bigtime, she tries to woo the MD into falling in love with her.

 

Will Kiara be able to persuade Arjun to break his penance?

It would be great if you can add this book to your TBR

Read the Excerpt

 

 

Sundari Venkatraman is an indie author with forty-five titles to her credit, which have sold more than 1.75 lakh copies around the world. Her books consistently feature in the Top 100 Bestseller Lists on Amazon in both Romance and Asian Drama categories. Her latest romance novels have all been on the #1 Bestseller slot in Amazon India for over a month.

 

As a child, Sundari loved to read books with ‘lived happily ever after’ endings. They were all about good triumphing over evil. As a teenager, her favourite books were romance novels from Mills & Boon. She was fascinated by them, so much so that she began to visualise the stories set in India.

 

Sundari was forty when she began her writing journey, completing the first draft of her first novel in thirty-five days. She has not looked back since.

Click here to check out all the titles by the author…

You can stalk her @

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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We Promote So That You Can Write 

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How is your book reading going on? I have been away from reviewing these days but that doesn’t mean I am not reading anything. Nobody can take away the reader in me. Today, I will be sharing my review for a non- fiction book What Your Banker Don’t Tell You by Vaibhav Anand.

Cover: The cover of the book is amazing as the cover doesn’t give you an idea that it is a non-fiction book. The cover looks like a mirage. It shows a girl, geeky beautiful who seems to be excited while writing something.

Title: The title of the book is intriguing and it just grabs the attention of the reader.

About the Book: Making money is hard, they will tell you. Or that you need to buy X insurance or Y mutual funds or a 3BHK in Z place. Your banker, your money manager, even the avuncular neighbor who sells you LIC policies, will seem incredibly earnest as they give you what is actually self-serving money advice.

Coming from someone who’s spent years in banking, ‘What your banker won’t tell you’ is a simple do-it-yourself guide for investing in India. Spanning investment instruments across real estate, mutual funds, equity investing, debt, gold, Vaibhav takes you through fundamental tenets and easy to follow steps to grow your money and keep your banker from taking some or almost all of it.

Review: Although I am picky with non- fiction, I liked this self-help book. The way the author has used examples to explain the points about “mutual funds” is great and I didn’t get bored while reading it. The language was simple and understandable. It was a quick and easy read with lots of suggestions to be implemented. People who are unsure about their financial management then this book is your Bible and everybody should read it as it has life-saving advice given by our one and only Vaibhav Anand.

Availability: https://amzn.to/3apr6c3

~ Book Blitz ~
Karma’s Dilemma
by Karma

About the Book:

Karma, a young man, knows very well who his soulmate is. Or so he thinks.

But, really, who is the one?

The posh Angela who he worships. Or is it Sana, the wild racer, who drives him crazy. Or is it Simi, the sensible psychologist, who puts him back together.

Or maybe there is no one for him because of Karma’s deeds in his all-consuming quest as he scours the world has broken so many rules that, one day, karma, the immortal and unrelenting collector of soul-debt, comes calling for Karma, the mortal, himself.

The novel demonstrates the lengths one is willing to go to, the rules one is willing to break and the soul-debt one is willing to accumulate in the quest for a soulmate. Truly, everything is fair in love, even if not in war.

Will Karma the mortal outwit karma the immortal? Or will karma wipe Karma away…

Book Links:

Goodreads * Amazon

Read some Snippets from Karma’s Dilemma

~ Snippet 1 ~

Bengaluru, the city of gardens. The city with lovely weather. The city of the fashionable and the hep. The Silicon Valley of India.

No, that wasn’t my Bengaluru. My birthplace became a part of Bengaluru only when an estate agent wanted to sell you a house.

To understand why I wished for her, you also need to understand the background in which the wish was made. That established, the name of the small town where I was born was Hulimavu, which translated into English as sour mango. I haven’t been able to figure out exactly why someone would choose that name for a place, but I have a good guess; pregnant women loved sour mangoes and my town had a high birth rate. My town was fifteen kilometers from “proper” Bengaluru and its nearest claim to fame was being close to the Bannerghatta National Park, a forest reserve, where tigers lived in blissful ignorance of their nemesis, the army of sour mango eating women, whose children would probably take over tiger territory one day.

~ Snippet 2 ~

It was my mother who named me Karma. It so happened that my chosen name was Kumar, but I am told that the outspoken nurse, who looked after my mother at the hospital during childbirth, said: “Tell your husband that your undernourished body is not meant to be used as a child producing factory. You have already given him two sons, what more does he want? This child is not Kumar. He is karma, the karma of your husband’s lust, who almost took your life.”

“But he didn’t take my life. So, if he is anyone’s karma, he is mine. My good karma,” Mother replied and named me Karma.

Download a copy on 2nd May!

About the Author:

Dear Readers,

Before I tell you more about myself, I want to answer a question that might arise in your mind. Given there are already so many writers (some might think too many), the question is: Why should I write at all?

Simply, I write because I was not allowed to write. Or read any book which had the word love in it. In my family, it was believed that reading about love lead to rebellion. I myself picked up the pen when my only child was six-months-old. At that time, I was without a job. I wrote because there was a lot that I wanted to tell my child, even if one day in the future, to make sense of this world. Writing also helped me keep hope alive, one page at a time, as I went from one fruitless interview to another.

As my child took the first steps, I reached a milestone of my own. I completed my first book; the story of a young man’s quest to find answers to life’s questions. A boutique publisher in Paris loved it and translated my work into French. I even found a job soon after.

I am choosing to write under a pen-name because I am at a stage in my life where I prefer and love anonymity. Once my child is older, I intend to write under my own name.

Many thanks for reading my post and I hope you enjoy reading my novels.

Happy Reading!

Karma

Vichchdan, a Punjabi word that is hovering over my mind from a few days. I don’t know why it is bothering me so much. I could have thought of Separation but why this Punjabi word. Basically, this word clearly elucidates my pain of separation. It is a separation that is not seen but can be felt.

Tere nehre hon da savera si,

Mere door hon da vehra si,

Kehnde ne Hanere to baad

Chanan aaunda hai

Par sade ishq vich

Milan di khaat

Te vichchdan da waqt partaunda hai …

“What nonsense are you writing Jia?” Kashvi asked in anger.

“I am writing something which I don’t even know. I don’t know how come I am connected to these Punjabi lines when I don’t even know an inch about Punjabi.”

“How can that be possible that you are writing in a language that you are not acquainted with?”

Suddenly Jia’s mom comes, and she quickly hides her writeup from her. Her mom knows that when Jia is upset, she always hid her writeups. So, she didn’t ask much. She asked them to have food. Once both the girls are gone, she checks her laptop. She then starts reading the writeup. She is stunned to read this. She suddenly stands up and says, “this can’t happen, she can’t write this!”

Jia rushes to her mom’s room. She is flabbergasted to see her mom in such a state. She brings water for her and makes her settle down. Now tell me, “Why you shouted all of sudden?” Jia enquired in a concerned tone.

“Jia first tell me, you wrote all this?”, she showed her the writeup which Jia had written a few minutes ago.

“Yes, mom”

Her mom got perplexed and couldn’t control her tears back. She hugged her daughter so tightly. She kept on murmuring,” You are back! You are back!”

Jia asked, “mom what happened? Who has come back?”

Mom replied,” Your real father, Viren Singh Rathod.”

Jia gasped and couldn’t believe her mother’s words as her father’s name was Vikramjeet Singh Deo.” She left the room as she couldn’t digest this bitter truth.

Author’s Note: Hello lovelies,

As we all are going through the lockdown or the self-isolation phase and I really don’t want to stress you guys by writing on Corona Virus; so I thought of coming up with Vichchdan, a story which I will write in series so that you all read this and feel elated. I will update this on Fridays and Sundays. Please give your feedback so that I can bring new stories for you.