Tuesday 1 December 2015

My Take- #Iam16icanrape by Kirtida Gautam

The 5 star rating is on the following criteria:

  Story/Concept/Plot        * 
Characterisation          *
Language/Expression       *
Entertainment/Message     *
Publishing (job done or not)  *


The novel, #Iam16icanrape is a work of fiction. It deals with the psychological aspect of rape. Be it the mind-set of the criminal, the survivor or the people associated with both the parties. It specifically talks about the loop-hole in our judicial system regarding juveniles.

The story is definitely inspired from real life incidents. I am sure the author was prompted by the heinous atrocities prevalent and enraging society.
The story, narration is gripping and well presented. The language keeps one interested. The book is quite detailed, talks about the incident and subsequent effects from the perspective of all the major characters. Author has put in sufficient build up, has tried to shock the reader with her vivid and meticulous descriptions.
The chapter arrangement of the book is intriguing, the story starts from the ninth chapter and keeps hopping from one to next. The start is racy, building up the right curiosity and interest in the reader.
The characterisation is good and they talk about their impressions, feelings in detail, but one doesn’t get too many answers and the questions keep multiplying, leading to the book losing pace in the middle, instigating to skip to end. According to chapter numbers, these are the preliminary chapters that come in the middle of the book.
The court scenes were interesting, but few more sessions would have been welcome. 
The psychological study of the issue is fascinating. At some places though it becomes technical and an effort for the reader to understand. By the time they are explained, as the book has already dragged on for some time without answers, the inclination to try to understand also fades and one just wishes to know the end.
The overall language of the novel is gripping and witty but I was put off by the use of Hindi words, and repetitions of words. Sometimes not used correctly. There are several proof reading errors as well.
The novel points out, to deal with this phenomena of rape in society, all must take responsibility. 
It must be read because it talks of an important issue and any awareness and discussion is call of the hour. The best part being it has been brought to us in a very interesting form via this book.
Some editing would go a long way in making it appealing to the younger age group who might get intimidated with the size.




On the above criteria I rate it ***1/2








Leave your comments here.



Monday 19 October 2015

My take- The Shadow of the Dark Soul by Sukhmani Gandhi

The 5 star rating is on the following criteria:

  Story/Concept/Plot        * 
Characterisation          *
Language/Expression       *
Entertainment/Message     *
Publishing (job done or not)  *



The Shadow of the Dark Soul is a novella. A short and quick read.

The story of Zayesha skims over the prevalent issues of sexual abuse of women and men, and several others. The topics less discussed or treated with 'it happens' attitude are presented to us to ponder over. Most of the 'cases' which were in lime light, whose occurrences have rocked and shocked the society have been woven into the fast paced narrative.

The book highlights several scenarios of sexual abuse that have happened/happens in public, personal, marital or in the work space and its few consequences. Consequences which mostly no one manages to find out.

The read reminds you of all that you have read in papers in past years, dreaded and questioned how safe is this civilized society, and then forgotten.

Zayesha's journey from a young, independent, sensitive career focused women, to a confused member of society, to an example and hope of change is fast paced.

The present generation, with no time ('as a rule') should read this book, just to stay informed. Its short and sums it all up in one place. A good and much needed effort by the author.

Reading was a rocky experience for me though. There were some glaring spelling errors. In some places, it felt like reading a news paper article. The latter part of the book seems to be in a hurry to be concluded. The expressions irked and narration seemed patchy in a few places.


I rate it  ***1/2 on the above criteria.



Keep reading.







Please leave your comments here:












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Sunday 20 September 2015

Impression - The Rose Bush by Priyanka Lal

A runaway boy, an ailing father, a teenager seeking peer attention! From an era,where crushes were enjoyed and looked forward to!

At the age where, somethings were so important and others not so much.

Said in a subtle way, if you are concentrating, you catch the wit.

A read for those rainy, lazy Sundays.

I would read it for the Language, the old world charm emanates.

I know its long, over 400 pages, but a life is never lived in a day!

Time to bundle up because....its time to read!!!






Leave your impressions here.



Friday 18 September 2015

Impression - The Archers Revenge by Destination Infinity

A good idea is lost, in poor presentation.

I am not a stickler to punctuation, but its absence screams at you.
The errors, repetitions, divert you from the plot.

Sad because, I understand the effort that goes in creating a novel.

Waiting for an edited version would be a good idea, because the story line does hold a promise.






Leave your impressions here. 

Thursday 17 September 2015

Impression- Pradyumna son of Krishna by Usha Narayanan

This is the only way, youths can still be kept interested in our scriptures!

Mythology for the elderly and the intellectuals, who ponder deeply and enjoy books.

The dazzle for the youth. The fun, the action, the excitement.

Lots of information, that we never took time out to hear from our grandparents, and still never ask.

Snippets that we might have caught but never delved!

Read it for all the right reasons.
To know of the glorious beliefs. To know of the less sung heroes.
Beautifully narrated events that have you jumping from one line to next, eager to be dazzled, thirsting for more.

The novel has content for all age groups.

Mine lose shine for ones above forty!! Maybe forty two!

Definitely on the to be read list, almost topping!

Spellbinding times ahead.... as its time to read!!!





Leave your impressions here.

Wednesday 16 September 2015

PL and Word Play: Don’t point finger…

PL and Word Play: Don’t point finger…: The residents above my flat, have crossed all limits. Every day, they drop garbage and discards. Not only that, their plants seem extr...

Don’t point finger…

The residents above my flat, have crossed all limits.

Every day, they drop garbage and discards. Not only that, their plants seem extra thirsty considering the amount of water they use to water them with!

Being a, closet resource conservation activist, the pouring rivulets on my balcony, set my teeth on edge.

I have deliberated on various ways I could give them taste of their own medicine. But didn’t put my plans in motion, because they involved, flooding their house, dumping garbage at their doorstep, break all their pots. All the hooligan, uncivilized stuff!

This afternoon, the droppings from above shook me to my last fibre.

When I went to my balcony to spread clothes for drying, I saw an entire dustpan lying there, overturned.

Fuming, I kicked it out of my path. It turned over, and the breath caught in my respiratory tract.

A finger pointed at me. A lone finger, manicured, with glossy red paint.

Lack of oxygen, due to caught breath, made me feel faint.

I scampered to the living room. Falling, fumbling, in fear, as if the finger chased me.

I called up 100. The police came.

I was embarrassed, when they first searched my house to see if I was hiding more pieces. But the shock I was in, didn’t allow me to be indignant.

I spare you the gory details, they took time; well, there are nine floors above mine. But they finally found pieces of an unfortunate woman, stashed in her own closet. No one is sure how the finger landed at my feet, literally.

They have collected the dustpan as evidence.

I have told them they will find my big toe print there, since that was what I had used to turn it over.

I stay vexed. The pieces were not found in the flat right above mine. I will have to plan something else, to teach those residents some civic sense.




This is what you get, when an author is left to her own devices. The weirdo, whacky me. Mixing facts with fantasy!







Please leave your rants here ;)

Tuesday 15 September 2015

Impression- Without You by Preethi Venugopala

Good ol' days' romance!

At least the language reminds of those days.

The plot would be modern of course.

I could see the artist in the author. Could see the paint brush, the ring of poetry, smell the fragrance of nature. Evident affinity to finer things, delicate things.

Finesse that is rarer these days.

A love story, everybody dreams of or may be not. Since the title suggests the yearning the protagonist is supposed to go through.

My romance drama isn't that fluffy!

This one I would read definitely for the language and because I too am a hopeless romantic!

Anticipating beautiful times.....as its time to read!!!   

Monday 14 September 2015

Impression- Forbidden by Mike Wells & Devika Fernando

This is the kind I grew up reading.

The points of shock have changed with the times, but a well known genre, language, pace. Feels familiar, feels like meeting an old friend.

Definitely intrigued, ticks the right boxes with pace, expressions, the lies, and the play on emotions of a young girl, the manipulation, blatant.

Wouldn't wait too long to grab this one! Since a trilogy, you get more and more to read.

Mine is testimony to penchant for length and intrigue.

Looking forward.

Happy times indeed...as its time to read!!! 

Sunday 13 September 2015

Impression- He Fixed the Match she fixed him by Shikha Kumar

The title and the chapter is your hint to what lies ahead.

Like the title, the novel is, simply worded, story of two characters. Obviously with a typical Indian family, to support the character's movements.

You find an inkling, the correct cords tauten with curiosity, to know what lies ahead, in this emotional, romance drama. What happens between these two, strong and stubborn characters, HE and SHE.

They have a history, where one has hurt the other, intentionally or unintentionally will be known only if one gets their hands on the book.

As the characters, Shreya and Kunal are 'strong', neither is ready to take it lying low. One revenge prompts the other, and the saga continues.

To find out the offence and the defense, grab the novel. Easy expressions, detailed description that helps you imagine the characters move in front of your eyes.
Or, if you prefer to literally see the movements, you could catch the upcoming movie! 

My romance drama, would take a couple of sequels, ya the length!!! 

Want to feel the romance and sparks between two people, who are hell bent on hating each other? Read the book, it will make you happy!

Happy times ahead, because...its time to read!!!  


Saturday 12 September 2015

Impression-A minute to death by Ganga Bharani

The book description says it all.

Real characters, get together to create an anticipation.

Simply worded, involving and tempting read. Extremely fast paced, no dilly dallying, only ponder as the clues are put in front of us.

I could picture what the words expressed.

Already, recommended the novel to people hard pressed for time, but for whom reading is not just time-pass but a way of living.

They were looking for something different from mine kinda romance! Detailed and leisurely.

A minute to death, though would be welcomed by readers and non readers, for the mystery, pace, and being succinct.

Have a happy time...because its the time to read!!   

Friday 11 September 2015

Introduction to readers...

Some of us have got together to promote few fine pieces of creativity.

Sharing with you all...

http://scribbledbygb.blogspot.com/2015/09/bookbite-by-gb-catalog-for-books.html


I will be sharing my impressions of these in the days to follow. Reader to readers, I am intrigued, hope you will be too.

Happiest times...because its time to read!!!