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Scammed by Anonymous

Aarti Krishnakumar — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:12:00 +0000

Book: Scammed

Published by Grey Oak/Westland

Pages: 182 pages

When I picked up this book, I read the synopsis and wondered what it would be about. But I must tell you, the author had me in for a surprise, as there was quite a bit of twist and turn within the first few pages.

The protagonist of Scammed, Hitesh Shah is an accountant who is quite vexed with his current job. Like every other hard working person, he waits patiently for that glorious moment when his boss(and friend) Sahil will call him into his office for the appraisal and offer him a promotion. Alas, it is not to be so. He discovers the promotion has gone to another woman in the office, who is much less deserving. Unable to take a decision and yielding into his boss’ offer that 6 months down the road Hitesh will be promoted, he goes on with his day, feeling miserable. Working on the accounts of a client, he discovers there is quite a bit of muck and underhand jobs going on, added to the fact that the partner assigned for the project Sandra is missing most of the time.

Through the client, he discovers Sandra has been having an illicit affairs under the pretense of being ill. Fed up with people around him, Hitesh decides to complete the assignment for Supreme Motors and look for something better. He goes home to a mother who is worried about him and always trying to hook him up with some girl or the other, and a father who is never happy and always looking for a quarrel, disagreement.

Hitesh approaches the client, Venugopal Reddy with the findings of the audit and also with a proposal. Venugopal is quite a sleazy businessman with quite a bit of political connections. This is also when Hitesh reconnects with his School sweetheart Sushma, they go around, go out, he buys her fancy things, and even asks her to marry him. Around this time, Venugopal fires and takes into action all those who had been cheating him, and ropes in Hitesh to launch the Rental car company, which comes as a much deserved break for Hitesh, who goes on to quit his job at Smith & Donald.

Supreme Motors does well, infact the company grows beyond dreams, giving Hitesh a new lease on life. However, like a stack of playing cards, things start falling apart. Complaints pour in from Franchisees, people are talking about abusive drivers, franchisees approved without Hitesh’s go ahead and just about everything else one can dream of. Amidst all this, Sushma breaks up with him saying she has a flourishing career ahead of her.

One morning, Hitesh is woken up and told that one of the members of Supreme Motors Mohan Babu has committed a murder and things are going from bad to worse for the company. Like many Bollywood movies, people run, some disappear, and others are blamed for no fault of theirs. If you have seen/read Pelican Brief, you will know what am talking about. With the help of Payal and another employee, Hitesh goes into hiding, just till things settle down. Angry and upset, he tries to figure out a way to solve the mess that has unfolded. Sushma and Sandra file case on Hitesh saying he abused and sexually harassed them.

With no other option, Hitesh runs from town to town with no one but Payal by his side. He gradually falls in love with her, realises how valuable she has been and goes on to marry her! With the help of the Chief Minister, he clears his name, and brings out all the trash to open, killing the chance that all the crooks had of instigating him and getting away scott free.

The book was quite engaging, i read it in one go and quite enjoyed the pace!! Yes, it did feel filmy, but i must give it to the author for maintaining pace, and keeping it real!!

My Grandfather’s stick -Children’s book from Tulika

Aarti Krishnakumar — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 14:33:00 +0000

My Grandfather’S Stick [Tamil: Yenn Thathavin Oonrukole]

Children have such a vivid imagination that they leave us stumped most times. Show them a pencil and they will show you atleast 5 different uses to it besides writing on a paper. Such is their power of imagination. In this book “My Grandfather’s stick”[published by Tulika], the author takes us on a journey where the little girl makes use of the stick for things beyond helping a person walk.

One moment, she transforms into a horse rider, flying off into air on the stick[that has become her horse] .. And then, she is off camping in the wild with the stick holding up her tent while she gazes at the stars in the night sky.

Zip zap zoom!! the stick is now a Magic wand and she is weaving magic all around… or maybe the stick will grow a pair of wings to help her fly high above the sky all the way to the moon.

Oh wait, she is not done yet! She uses the stick as a magical pencil to draw in air- a beautiful house, slide to play in, an elephant or a cycle, flowers, birds, they all come alive through the stick. When she is feeling playful, the stick becomes the line that she has just crossed on the athletic field to become the Champion!!

Now, how about a ride in the river, lets use the stick as the oar to move the boat along.. Row row row the boat…gently down the stream…

Wonder what next….

She dreams the stick becomes a tall finger so she can reach for the star, maybe even touch it..oh wow! But finally, when her grandfather uses the stick to help him walk, she is the happiest… Such simple pleasures of joy derived.

The next time you see a child playing with a stick or a box, pretending it was something else, dont interrupt them. Let them enjoy their dream, ask them to share their dreams with you… You never know, they might give you ideas!

Such simple words written in both English and Tamil, the book is perfect for those who are just beginning their reading journey.. And for parents who wish to teach their child both English & tamil… Nandini Nayar weaves magic through words yet again…

Story- Nandini Nayar

Age – 3+

Pictures- Kshitiz Sharma

Translation- Malarvizhi

Published- Tulika PublishersLanguage- English/TamilFormat- Paperback

Price: Rs85

Mentor Your Mind, Tested Mantras For the Busy Woman by Mamta Singh

Aarti Krishnakumar — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 18:06:00 +0000

>The book i received had a very interesting title, albeit long, it had me curious to see what the pages held within… It was-

Mentor Your Mind, Tested Mantras For the Busy Woman

by Mamta Singh

Genre: Self help

Pages: 168

Published by Sterling Publishers

This book is a guide, rather a handbook for every woman who feels she is busy and has no time for life! There are some woman who am sure will call this book their Bible, it all depends on how much it helps you or not!

I found it quite fascinating. Within the first few pages, it becomes evident that the Author has done her share of research or belong to the sect of women who needs some insights and tips on dealing with their crazy schedules and lives.

For the urban women, the women of today, who look forward to carrying off the corporate job, and manage their homes, taking and maintaining their body is an essential aspect, it is not enough just being healthy.

This book is divided into three broad categories- Mental Fitness.. Physical Fitness and Spiritual Fitness! Each of these talks about the areas that fall within and that needs to be addressed….

We see in our daily lives how many people inspite of being “Fit” fall ill, or suffer from ailments. This is primarily because of the unhealthy lifestyle, eating habits, or no control of the mind. The book talks about how valuable it is to ~~control our mind,~~ rather to mentor our mind, give it the guidance it needs to help detox the body, mind and soul.

Be it Meditation, or Physical Exercises, the chapters contain not just guidelines or explanations, there are surveys and questionnaires to allow us, the readers rate ourselves. This gives much more depth to the lessons held within the pages, the words make more sense and they help us get clarity on what we need to do, or which direction to take.

In the chapter” How can you tell it is time to see a doctor”, the Author talks about various circumstances and how people react to each of them… With a little summary at the end of every chapter, there are little points given that will help make ones life better, giving them better health , both physical and mental…

There are interesting quotes scattered through the book, take a minute to read them, think about them and see what they really mean….

“The walls we build around us to keep sadness out also keeps out the joy.” ~Jim Rohn [this is a quote at the beginning of Emotional Fitness Category]

If work or life has been bogging you down and you are looking for something to help make your daily life better, then i suggest you pick up this book and spend some time reading through the words…. There are tips, guidelines, schedules, examples, surveys and so much more that will help us define our lives and work towards making them better!

To Summarise- The book address 6 key mental maladies, 6 of the worst emotional afflictions and offers 7 spiritual self-service techniques that the urban woman are most commonly faced with. And this has been done via – 3 simple self-evaluation questionnaires; 13 easy-to-follow step-wise action charts, and illustrations; 20 mentoring based schedules; and then there are the detailed 16 explanatory tables…. I can promsie you this- the book is not boring, the book is not preachy or like a lecture! It is interesting and well chalked out…

Hats off to the Author Mamta for coming out with this book, keeping it simple and straight forward!! Good luck!

Missing Varrun by Amar Agarwala

Aarti Krishnakumar — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 06:39:00 +0000

Format: Paperback
Publisher: Leadstart Publishing Pvt Ltd
No. of Pages: 326

Genre: Fiction

On reading this book, i realized it was all about the beautiful connection between a husband and his wife, a father and his daughter; a father and his son; and a grandfather and his grandson…. it was all about Bridging the distance… Reconnecting with people who mean a lot and about a family that is living in different parts of the world and their stories…. !!

The book opens with the protagonist waiting to meet his wife Amaya on her last day at the school. The story then goes towards the home she has created in Ceuta and her circle of friends and family and ofcourse him…

He hails from Bengal, lives with his mother but through a mysterious act of fate meets this charming Spanish girl, falls in love with her and makes her his wife.. Their love goes beyond religion, nationality, lifestyle and so much more, which is what brings them together and keeps them apart…As their marrried life progresses, they pick up a small flat where they move to, stretching the little money he makes, while she goes on to look for opportunities. And one such lands on her lap, albeit it is in Spain… He agrees, she goes back to her hometown with their 2 children and he visits once a year to spend time with them. Yes, they live apart pretty much through the year…

Living alone, he gives up their apartment, moves back in with his mom and continues to pass each day…. The story weaves beautifully between the dusty lanes of Kolkata and the scenic sites of Spain… The big farewell get together they have at home the day Amaya retires, the way the entire family comes together, their love, connections… As days progress, Amaya tells her husband she wants to return to India with him, and she is sure of her decision… He hesitates, but relents… No sooner does the couple get back together that destiny plays a evil game and Amaya passes away, leaving him alone once again…

He returns to Kolkata, gets on with his life, all the while missing his wife and his kids and grandson Varrun… The skype calls, the emails and chats continue and so does their life… he reminisces of the children growing up in Kolkata, his son’s best friend who is a reason for him to visit once again[for her treatment] and their chauffeur, who has been around forever, who was at Amaya’s beck and call..

Amar has woven a beautiful tale via this book, he has managed to capture the emotions and turmoil that people go through when relationships are broken, the difficulties in a long distance relationship and that of a yearning man who wants to reach out to his family but is dealing with life…. Its a good read, and am sure looking forward to Amar’s next book…

Let the Rain kiss you by Vibha Vyas

Aarti Krishnakumar — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:28:00 +0000

The book is about a girl, rather girls, and about how in a family of girls, each one is of a completely different personality. The book is also about siblings, the relationships , the mother daughter connection, and the impact Rains have had on this Sahni family.

Narrated through the voice of Kittu[Kirti], the tomboy of the family, the one girl who stands out from the lot, the one who has made it on her own, with grit and gumption.

The story is about Kiran who commits suicide giving into a battle that she feels she has lost and has no idea how to deal with failures.. It is also about her father who shuts himself out on her death, stays in her room but eventually proves he cares and loves his other daughters.

It is about the mother, how she favours one child over the other, how she treats the one daughter, Kajal who is fair and beautiful better than the others, how the girl, Komal who is dark and not so pretty is made to do all the cooking and other errands around the house, while others enjoy a carefree life.

There is also the tale about the grandmother, a mother in law, and a mother, who is the backbone of the family, who has been through a lot, had to deal with the battles of the country, seperation from her family, the sister who makes an appearance later [who has converted to a Muslim with whom Sumitra breaks all ties then and there]

And then there is the rain… Sweet little drops of water that dont seem to bring anything but bad luck and pain to this family. Everytime there is a wonderful function or moment about to happen, the pitter patter of rain is a sign that things are about to go wrong. Everytime it rains, the mother and grandmother are petrified and hold their hearts in their mouth with fear, anticipating the worst.

The characters in the book are-

Sumitra: The matriarch, the woman who holds the Sahni Family together.
Krishnakant: Sumitra’s son who often leans towards the mother when battling with the wife.
Naina: The mother, a very frustrated wife, and with big dreams for her daughters
Kiran: Naina and Krishnakant’s first daughter. Smart, talented, good at studies, but knows nothing but winning.
Kajal: Second daughter, very beautiful, and very aware of her beauty and the power it has over men

Komal: third daughter An average[dark] looking girl. Extremely talented in singing, but does not sing at home since her dad bans it, stammers when nervous and an amazing cook
Kirti (kittu): the youngest of the Sahni clan. A rebel, a fitness instructor by profession and hell bent on creating her own identity
Ranbir: A businessman who was chosen for Kajal but ends up marrying Komal.
Vinayak Kapoor: A family friend of the sahnis.
Urmila: Vinayak’s wife and almost a member of the Sahni family , who encourages Komal in her singing pursuits.

The book is a good read , it is a book that will have you wondering what next in the pages…

Enlightenment to Go- David Michie

Aarti Krishnakumar — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 06:58:00 +0000

Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.

Lao Tzu

Enlightenment to Go: The Classic Buddhist Path of Compassion and Transformation by David Michie was the book i was reading…

While browsing around the net for books by David Michie, i noticed that he has also written two other best sellers-Buddhism for Busy People and Hurry Up and Meditate.

Buddhism for Busy People seemed interesting- it is about David’s encounter with Tibetan Buddhism, weaving an autobiographic narrative while presenting some basic concepts.. Sounds interesting, should give it a read!!

Ok, getting back to Enlightenment to Go- The book belongs to the Self help category, but unlike the other books in this genre, it does not go on preaching about life’s lessons or morals.

It is all about an 8th century text by the Buddhist sage Shantideva, which The Dalai Lama consistently preaches and recommends too all simply because of the life changing psychological tools available and transcendent wisdom.

Quite an insightful exploration of the traditional Buddhist teachings , especially on compassion and human life, it shows us how we can apply these very basic fundas into our busy and contemporary lives.

For the last 30 years, the Dalai Lama in all his speeches and meetings, has recommended Shantideva’s ‘A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life’ as a must read for anyone interested in changing their life and applying Buddhist philosophy to daily life. But the challenge for many in following the 8th Century text is understanding the language and script, even though it is filled with treasure of information.

David provides a simple, lively and accessible guide to ‘the best of’ Shantideva. Sharing insights into his enthusiasm for Shantideva’s radical insights, David has written the words by the Sage in his own language, reaching out to the millions who are keen on altering their lives. He draws from the variety of scientific sources, ranging from cognitive behaviour therapy to mindfulness training, quantum physics to neuro-psychology to elucidate how Shantideva’s words are timeless and relevant even today.

The book also offers a very structured meditation program that will help readers integrate their life changing insights from a deeper level of consciousness which is when the change is will become visible and actually come into being. Narrating stories from his own journey, David illustrates the application of Shantideva’s teachings to a typical Westerner who has a busy life, through warmth and a dash of humour. It does not matter if you are new to Buddhism or have been a seasoned practitioner, either ways Enlightenment to Go offers an insiders view and glimpse of a reality many dream of.

When you are on the last page, you truly understand why the Dalai Lama has been such an avid follower of Shantideva’s words and teachings! Its a good read for those who are open to Buddhism or are already aware of the teachings, lessons and methods in Buddhism.

You Can Sell by Shiv Khera

Aarti Krishnakumar — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 06:54:00 +0000

“If you think you can – you can !

If you think you can not – you can not !
And either way……..you are right !”
— Shiv Khera

After the success of You can Win, Shiv Khera is now back with You Can Sell… The front cover of the book has the title You can win and the byline- “Results are Rewarded, efforts arent” , which is the crux of the book.. which is the truth of the world!!

If you want to:

Gain success and avoid pitfalls

Meet and exceed your goals

Establish credibility and grow

Gain a competitive edge

Learn the qualities of a winning professional

This Book is For you! [is what the back cover starts off with........]

Shiv khera sure has a way with words and well, am sure many are eager to learn the Art of selling for who this book will be a bible!

Giving a brief sneak into those Who are not selling, Shiv Khera goes on to talk about how our mind works, how we should think, and the ideas that need to be encouraged from within us for us to succeed in life.

This book is a hardcore seller when it comes to giving people little tips=- starting with one’s physical appearance, the attitude, posture, the way we smile and the art of convincing others to buying what we are selling.. It could be a product, it could be a strategy, it could be a service… The bottom line is, if you want to sell something, anything, you need to be convinced enough to talk about it.. You need to beleive in it before you can sell it to others..

Dont simply sell the product, sell the experience

Dont simply talk about the benefits and advantages of a service, convince the other person they cannot grow/develop/excel without it

Dont sell blatantly, but smooth talk to have the other person BUY!

I felt the book was a bit too much, maybe its just me, but i did get comments from others i spoke to on how Shiv Khera’s words are worshiped.. So, if you are looking for something to carry in your pocket, to give you an instant boost of adrenalin or give you a helping hand in dire situations, then go ahead, read this book.. Otherwise, keep this to refer in case you have doubts or going through a rough patch to give yourself hope!

A Brief About The Vodafone Crossword Book Awards:

Exclusively Indian, inclusive in every other sense, the Vodafone Crossword Book

Award brings together the entire literary community – readers, authors, booksellers & publishers – like no other awards.

These are your awards – join us in celebrating Indian writing.

The Vodafone Crossword Book Award is one of the most prestigious and popular literary prizes in India that not only recognizes and rewards the best of Indian writing but also actively promotes the authors and their books.

The Vodafone Crossword Book Awards are given out in the following categories:

1. Vodafone Crossword Fiction Award.

2. Vodafone Crossword Non-Fiction Award.

3. Vodafone Crossword Translation Award.

4. Vodafone Crossword Children’s Award.

5. Vodafone Crossword Popular Award.

Click here to know more about the awards.

Blinkers Off by Andaleeb Wajid

Aarti Krishnakumar — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:22:00 +0000

The cover of the book had me fascinated and so did the title… Blinkers off by Andaleeb Wajid is the kind of book you should read after a packed tiring day…. The book is light, while being deep; It is fun while being serious and it makes for a breezy read.

While reading this book, i realized once again it is not necessary for a book to be heavy duty, filled with high tech words and have complex characters for it to be interesting.

The book is all about “Noor”. Like every other college girl, Noor goes through her set of conflicts and ideas.She dreams of becoming a screen play writer, ergo taking the documentary making classes very seriously. When she comes across Dennis, the suave good looking guy who is almost like a Knight in the shining Armour, her heart skips a beat and emotions run amok. And then, there is her family… She is out late working on projects, her parents, especially her mom is unhappy with this and even comments that Noor should stop the course. And then there is her team mate Supriya, who is anything but a team mate, quite the contrary!

The day she is paired with Supriya, she wonders what is going to happen.. She is frustrated when Supriya does not even bother to contribute, but is beyond excited when the Professor picks her script to be made into a documentary. She is assigned a team of 5-6 members, all of who come with their set of baggage, all of which needs to be dealt with if the documentary gets made…

Supriya bugs her to no end, her Diva like attitude, good looks and of course the fact that she is all over Dennis… But, it is thanks to Dennis that Noor is able to get through the ordeal and get her documentary done and finished. Noor has to not only manage her team mates, but guard the Bride’s dark secret, put up with Supriya and her tantrums, keep her feelings to herself and remain focussed on the task at hand- The Documentary! As things come to a head during the wedding, Noor realizes there is no easy way out or a solution in sight, and i guess that is the crux of Blinkers off.

The Characters are all very real, and we can relate to quite a few of the incidents in the book.. I was also left wondering if guys like Dennis actually existed in the real world and if so, where were they!! .. Andaleeb, any leads on this?

5 copies Free Book Giveaway contest !!
Three tasks to qualify

1) Tell us about a documentary that inspired you (in comments below or on twitter with hastag #blinkersoff

2) Share this post on facebook & or twitter with the hashtag #blinkersoff

3) Tell us something fun/interesting/trivia about your own community’s marriage ceremony/tradition, either in comments below or on twitter with hashtag #blinkersoff

Contest closed!

Winners in comments below

Saraswati Park by Anjali Joseph

Aarti Krishnakumar — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 20:00:00 +0000

After reading the “Maximum City” by Suketu Mehta, “Love and Longing in Bombay” by Vikram Chandra and ofcourse “Shantaram” by Gregory David Roberts, I was now onto reading yet another book on the Buzzing city of Mumbai- “Saraswati Park” by Anjali Joseph.

This book has been nominated for the Vodafone-Crossword Award for 2011 under Fiction category!

Saraswati Park is a fascinating story about a simple family who call Bombay their home. The book is a vivid description of the city and how many lives are entwined within it..

Saraswati Park is the colony where the protagonists- Mohan & his wife Lakshmi reside. It is where Mohan wakes up every morning and makes tea for himself and his wife without making too much noise, though no matter what lakshmi wakes up and complains of all the clanging

Saraswati Park is where Ashish goes through a transformation.

Saraswati Park is the place that is the hub of emotions, personalities and a reflection of the city that is alive through the day.

Saraswati Park is like the train journey to Churchgate….the moments where one fights to find a seat.. while other times the train offers solace …

Saraswati Park is a book that is Mohan’s story. Mohan Karekar is a letter writer who helps translate others thoughts into words day in and out, sitting outside the post office. He loves to read, aspires to write a book one day and is very concerned about the changes happening around him.

Lakshmi got up when he opened the cupboard to take out a clean shirt. ‘Every day,’ she observed. She picked up the covered cup of tea and regarded it at arm’s length. She sighed. Mohan began to do up his buttons. The shirt was crisp; it hung at a polite distance from his body. He started to roll up his sleeves, and followed her to the kitchen to point out, ‘But I didn’t wake you.’ She poured the tea into the saucepan and lit the gas. Her eyes were still heavy. ‘That’s what you think,’ she said. ‘You think I don’t hear you, clanging about in the kitchen.’

Mohan and Lakshmi lead a very simple and almost staid life, what with their children being away from home and his job being a monotonous one. Though everything looks happy and dandy, there is a lot brewing underneath, that causes quite a bit of tension between the couple, and it is visible their marriage is crumbling like the words that are stuck in Mohan’s mind.

A group of pigeons flew out of the old tree and into the sky, their wings making the sound of wind on the sea; they criss-crossed each other and made for the west. He tucked the new book under his arm and returned to the station, where a Harbour Line train was pulling into platform two.

Things do change a bit when Ashish, Mohan’s nephew comes to live with them and hopefully turn his life around, especially studies. Ashish is a 19year old teenager majoring in English literature and going through a confused phase, primarily related to his sexual preferences.

Saraswati Park, the book takes us along the journey that these three different characters go through, giving us a glimpse of what each of their lives are like and what is it that holds them together, or not.

The crux of the book is when Lakshmi’s brother Satish passes away, and Mohan is left to take care of organising the last rites, to being there when the will is executed. Satish leaves all his posessions to Ashish, who is not a blood relative but someone he cares about. With each passing day Mohan immerses himself in the books and writing, almost ignoring Lakshmi and her desiers. Using this as an excuse, Lakshmi goes away to her hometown, leaving Mohan wondering if she is alright and if he has done something to upset her.

After a brief spell of seperation, Mohan finally gives in and goes to bring Lakshmi back where she belongs. All the while Ashish is going through his own set of worries and turmoils, not to forget Professor Narayan who is tutoring him not just in English Literature but on life as well. He is torn between feelings for the Professor, which ends up in heart break when his professor ends all ties with him. Thanks to his friend, Ashish matures and moves on, going to USA for further studies, trying to put the professor episode behind him, albeit with one final phone call while waiting for his flight to board.

Anjali has managed to keep the flow going beautifully, giving us readers something to ponder on with every page. Though the pace of the book is slow and some parts seem lame, it is overall a good read. For people who have been to or lived in Mumbai, the spirit of the city will definitely have them smiling and reminiscing.

Good luck on the award, Anjali!!

A Brief About The Vodafone Crossword Book Awards:

Exclusively Indian, inclusive in every other sense, the Vodafone Crossword Book

Award brings together the entire literary community – readers, authors, booksellers & publishers – like no other awards.

These are your awards – join us in celebrating Indian writing.

The Vodafone Crossword Book Awards are given out in the following categories:

1. Vodafone Crossword Fiction Award.

2. Vodafone Crossword Non-Fiction Award.

3. Vodafone Crossword Translation Award.

4. Vodafone Crossword Children’s Award.

5. Vodafone Crossword Popular Award.

Click here to know more about the awards.

Siya Seth Decides to Die by Sneha Mehta

Aarti Krishnakumar — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 04:38:00 +0000

>Siya Seth has committed suicide. After her death, she decides to bare it all, telling the world her story. Siya, a school girl [17 years of age] was a victim of parental abuse since she was 8. Though she tries doing everything possible to gain her some peace and comfort, her hidden secrets keep haunting her, not letting her rest, driving her over the edge at the end.

Review of Siya Seth Decides to Die…Pages 255. Rs 100

Publisher- Diamond Books, Delhi

When i 1st read the title, i was taken aback. Made me wonder if the author had been inspired by Paulo Coelho’s Veronica Decides to Die, but as i read through, i realised this is fairly different.

The opening lines -

“Life sucked me dry. I felt like a diagonally parked car in a parallel universe. People rolled up, collided, had accidents, and recovered; while I lay bruised. externally and internally. Seen and unseen. I committed suicide. For my own good.”

had me engrossed.. Though i kind of knew where the story was headed, i was curious to see how Sneha’s novel would be…

Siya seems to be a a regular teenage rebel, one who is very bold, and yet on other hand she is coming to terms with adulthood, trying to deal with changes in her physical appearance and inside of her. She goes on with life, with only a best friend- Reva.

Although she has it all, Siya does not seem to live in peace. There is something that is haunting her, giving her sleepless nights and endless nightmares. She even dates the good looking Randeep, which does not sit well with her best friend Reva. She bunks school, bribes a policeman in Marine Lines, bluffs her way through the day, visits a man who is proficient in Past life related issues, who claims to heal her soul for just Rs999. But, none of this seems to help… And we, the readers wonder why?!

Siya is a depressed teenager who has a dark secret buried deep inside her heart. She is depressed, lonely and sad. She is also stinking rich, an only child and has servants attending to her day in and day out, so nobody can understand why a filthy rich and good looking teenager could be miserable. As readers we do know it has to do something with her dark secret.

No prizes for guessing what Siya’s dark secret is..you will know it if you have read the blurb on the back cover of the book, or if you read through the 1st 50 odd pages. The book starts off strong, but after a while makes us wonder where it is headed. Siya takes her own sweet time in revealing the truth, and what was really going on in her life, and why she committed suicide.

The abuse, the victim and the culprit, the emotions running high and the society’s role in all of this could have been highlighted better. I felt the plot kind of fizzled out after a point, and the extent of Siya’s trauma dint come through the pages. Also, there were quite a bit of grammatical errors and typos here and there, which the author and editor should spend time in polishing!

But hats off to Sneha for taking such a sensitive and prevailing issue and attempting to bring it out to the world!

About the Author

Sneha Mehta is a student of organizational psychology and a freelance writer.

Haunted- Douglas Misquita

Aarti Krishnakumar — Mon, 30 May 2011 04:33:00 +0000

Douglas Misquita- Haunted

Review of Haunted; Douglas Misquita; Frog Books 2011; Rs350; pp 372

The Black & White cover with a pool of red caught my eye, and before i knew it, i was done flipping pages and was left haunted by Kirk Ingram’s life!

FBI Special Agent Kirk Ingram’s life is completely torn apart when his family, his 2 beautiful women – wife Madeline and Daughter Lisa brutally murdered right before his eyes. On their drive back home, many thoughts had haunted Kirk- his work, his wife going for Marriage counselling, and then the car on his tail. But all he felt now was pain and the thirst for revenge, it was time for his Payback. Devastated and torn physically and mentally he vows “Payback” and that he will work towrds destroying all forms of organised crime.

Across the world, there is an international trade house bringing together various terrorist activities and organised crime in a deadly nexus. Their operations are so vast that it aims at bringing the world to an order, bordering anarchy.

Not many are aware of this operation, but there is one man who looms large vowing to bring a stop to these demons. He is seeking redemption, seeking revenge, he is on a personal battle against these very men.

The pages are filled with plans, plots, fights and the whole process of how Kirk goes about his mission “Payback”.

Even though Kirk Ingram is the main character of the novel, there are others [from his task force] assisting him in the hunt for these killers, and terrorists. The woman who works with Kirk during the mission is a “i dont care what happens to me, but shall help you at any cost” kind of character. Her character evolves through the book, winding along giving a sneak peek into her life as well. it is all about the good guy vs bad guy, their chase and storyline, all of which keeps us engrossed. Though some scenes seem right out o a movie, it has been dealt with well.

The bad guys are a Balkan terrorist group, who are operating under a tyrannous dictator with their base set in the United States of America & Russia. They transport their goods and material through what they thought was a “impenetrable network”. Alas, their smooth operations are disrupted when one of them dies, and they begin the hunt for the Agent, Kirk Ingram.

I have read many Lee Child and James Patterson novels, but this is truly the 1st Indian novel that has come close to their style of writing, and has kept me hooked till the very end. I was drawn towards Kirk, felt his pain, travelled the journey to redemption, and was angry at the criminals for what they did…

The plot flew beautifully through the book, keeping the reader gripped wondering what is going to happen next. The detailing was quite visual, it felt like watching a thriller movie on screen.

A wonderful novel by Douglas Misquita, an author who seemed seasoned rather than a 1st timer, and one who knew how to weave a tale. He has made good use of visuals and Sound, giving the readers a taste of the chase. A must read for those who enjoy Murder Mystery, Detective and Thriller genre.

About the Author

Douglas Misquita holds an MBA in Information Technology and Systems and a Bachelor in Electronics Engineering and is currently working in the telecommunications industry. Haunted is his first published work and was written while the author was in engineering college and reworked for publication. Besides writing, Douglas is an avid musician — playing the guitar and harmonica, and enjoys singing, composing and arranging music, watching movies and loves travelling to places steeped in history.

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