A Girl to Remember by Ajay K Pandey

                                                                      🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠

I received this book from the publisher just in time to bring to you an honest pre-release review.

At the onset I would say, I have read the author's all works so far and have seen the growth in his writing style and content.

A Girl to Remember is a memorable recount of an innocent girl who believes nobody is a bad person and all inherently have good in them. The right reasons in life are required for that person to bring out the better side.  

As the story begins you discover Neel dealing with troubles that have cropped up due to his own weakness. He receives unexpected help from Pihu and comes across Annu - a woman 11 years older to Neel.

The evil demon in Neel makes him come up with a dark plot but his plans are thwarted by the helpless, timid, Pihu whose intentions are a puzzle for Neel.

As this puzzle pushes you to keep turning the pages you discover new facets of each characters life, especially you get an insight into Neel and the anecdotes from his childhood make you realize he could be anyone among us.

The main characters in the book are markedly different from all that we have seen from the author so far. The negative shades of Neel made me little apprehensive in the beginning but finally the journey justified it all. 

Intriguing read, wherein with every turn of page, new strings pulled me deeper into the narration and the characters' lives kept me glued to the book.

Definitely a keeper. Ajay Kumar Pandey shells out as real as it gets!

Love at second sight

We met, like two strangers
Whose paths had crossed again

You were quiet
When my eyes had skittered past you

The pause of your lips
Yes I felt the break in your breath too

Moved past you, Oblivious
World awaited
Which I had to face

©PL

A fortnight in Auckland

I know it has been longer since I got here, but the first impressions are always worth sharing. 

Then of course it can become routine. It already seems, I have been here for, like forever! What with me resuming my housewife and editor duties without too much of a break.

Well leaving out the obvious, let me share with you what I have experienced so far. First to answer the question from the dear friends back at home. Yep! India and Bangalore are still The Home.

Friends ask me, “…yaad aati hai?” (“Do you remember us?”)

Guys! I have not had a memory loss! Of course, I remember our days and evenings together and I most definitely will continue to do so.

Now, coming to the point. First destruction of myth for you… All the online blogs that I tried to research before coming here, most of them claimed, New Zealand is so clean, people walk here barefoot!

Well, coming from India especially cities like Bangalore and Ranchi, I cannot argue the cleanliness part, but let me tell you, people here wear the smartest of shoes! All of them. Right from toddlers to oldies in retiring homes, best of shoes in the best condition. And they are clean too.

One myth down, let me tell you some more…

Never having stepped on a foreign land before, (I know my trip to Nepal nearly two decades ago does not count as a foreign trip) I cannot help but compare everything with back at home.

This is a true Indian’s confession who has spent her life in small town there as well as lived in a metro, so pay heed.

The biggest truth that I have found out is, in India, everything is so damned convenient! We are so used to things being taken care of for us, we do not value what we have there. True, honest confession. We keep on blaming Government for everything and we say we do not have facilities there, but the truth is, what we have I do not think any other part of World has. And I am saying this from my limited resource of comparison and believing New Zealand works like the other developed nations.

These people here, never seemed to have heard the word, free delivery and free installation! Do we, Indians, ever pay for things to be delivered to us? We already paid and bought the things on heavy discount, now it’s the shop's duty to deliver it to us and see to it that it is in top notch running condition or we will simply leave the thing with them and go to some other provider, am I right? Or am I right? 😊

There are so many things I would like to share with you all in the blogs that I intend to write, during my stay in New Zealand. Yes, I said stay, I am still unsure if this is a permanent thing for me.

I think my friends who know me will appreciate better the next information that I share. 

Its October here. I know its October in all parts of Earth, but this is supposed to be start of Summer season in Auckland. Population here is finding it pleasant and are going around in shoestring dresses and ganjis whereas I keep shivering in my full sleeved t-shirt and a sweatshirt. It’s so cold and windy that for someone like me, who does not allow the ceiling fan to run on anything above 3 even during the hot Indian summer months, it feels like the toughest winter I have ever faced. And I come from the old-time hill station town of Ranchi!

I only wish to tell you my friends, I dread the winter months after March. What did you say? You will be hot and dripping with sweat then?

OMG I miss my hot India!

Did I tell you about the internet connection? Will get back to you in my next update. Keep watching this space.

P.S.   I do Love it! 

My Take - Shamsuddin's Grave The story of a homeless by Paromita Goswami

The 5 star rating is on the following criteria:

Story/Concept/Plot               * 

Characterisation                   *

Language/Expression           *

Entertainment/Message        *

Publishing (job done or not)  *

Shamsuddin's Grave is a narration, the story of a man who wishes to live with his family and lives a life to fulfill just that dream. His background, his homeland, the place where he lives, his place in social ladder are the hurdles in his quest. The story moves from Shamsuddin to Latika who brings in diverse issues in the picture, her career, her love, her past, her ambition, her drive to help, these, takes the story in a journey of many twists and sub-lanes.  

The opening chapter had me intrigued, so did the chapters where the characters interacted and had conversation. When the story turned into a narrative, it dragged.   

There are several interesting sub-plots but I felt they were only superficially explored. Latika's past, or when she is itching to help out the girl in the slum, would have made a very interesting read, had they been dealt with the flare that the author showed in the opening scenes, or the flood scene. But they have been reported to the reader rendering good ideas lacklustre and making them fizzle out.

At some places the author does manage to strum the right chords in the reader, hence the loss of various opportunities in the many sub-plots disappoints. 

However, I look forward to reading more from the author, because what I liked of the book, I would definitely want to read more.    

There were several editing negligence and proofreading errors.

On the above mentioned criteria, I rate it **

Leave your comments here.     

My Take - Yama by Kevin Missal

The 5 star rating is on the following criteria:

  Story/Concept/Plot             * 

Characterisation                   *

Language/Expression           *

Entertainment/Message        *

Publishing (job done or not)  *

If you grew up on regular dosage of Sherlock Holmes and Byomkesh Bakshi, you will instantly identify with Iravan and his geeky and resourceful assistant Vardhaan. But that's where the resemblance ends.

The novel explores the big question;  evil with an intention of good, can it be called evil?

That is what has been told in story of Iravan Rajpoot.

His past and present has led to this interesting story, woven along are the various atrocities prevalent in society. 

An ex-commander of Indian Army, he has been chosen as the protagonist, for a reason. His ticking mind, is thrown challenges one after another to save lives - of chosen civilians, and Vardhaan tries to help him do so. 
The civilians, representatives of the society, and Iravan a man in conflicts because he wants to see a change, in himself, in his surroundings. 

Does Iravan succeed in beating the evil villain?

The story interweaves, today's society and its concerns, crimes, with mythology and has sufficient sprinkling of spicy thrills.

Yama is a page-turner, written in a way to keep the reader hooked. I was happy to see, despite various plots and sub-plots, the author never slackened his hold on his characters and their actions.

Each chapter begins and ends with lines that push you to the edge, making keeping down the book difficult. It definitely makes an interesting read. A journey you would not regret, if you choose to undertake.

In not too many words, but many chapters a complex story has been woven.

In some places, narration does seem rushed. Too much pruning, has somehow stunted the growth. The author could have taken some time to add on to the thrills of action, and could have played with a little more emotion and dilemma of the protagonist, given his family background that has been created. A little unbelievable was Yama's agile action, given the end. (Don't want spoilers.)  

I had expected the end to be a little more adrenaline rushing, but it turned out weak.  It could be because of the persistent confusion that we all have; is fighting evil with evil, right?

There were minor proofreading/printing glitches in few places, that can be easily rectified in the next editions.



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


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My Take- We’re Forever by Paridhi Newatia

The 5 star rating is on the following criteria:

  Story/Concept/Plot             * 

Characterisation                   *

Language/Expression           *

Entertainment/Message        *

Publishing (job done or not)  *

We’re Forever, is a fresh and unapologetic (language-wise) tale of new age lovers without too many romantic moments. The freshness is in the fast pace at which the episodes are portrayed. 

The story brings to us fantasy of every youngster in small Indian towns, highly influenced as they are by Hollywood and Bollywood.

Vidisha and Varun, meet during a small town college fest. 

Vidisha is a vibrant, young, hardworking, college going, entrepreneur. Varun is the quintessential charmer. 

They fall in love, brought together in beautifully described setups. 

They share sporadic, momentary, romantic times. We don't get to see the love blossoming between them, rather told. 

As they graduate out of college and move on with their careers, and future, hackneyed circumstances drive them apart. Vidisha refuses to believe, her prince charming cannot love her any more. With time he comes to his senses and they get together, Forever. 

As a romance novel, the actual romance, meetings of lovers fails to find place in the fast paced story.

The story focuses more on the high life Vidisha lives with her friends. Those episodes will definitely get teenagers all excited about living-it like Vidisha.

The character description, paints a picture in one’s head, but I found the traits antagonistic, so a little unbelievable.

Like the mother who gives Vidisha absolute ‘space’ in her personal life but the first proposal at the door, and she turns gooey eyed, visualizing her just-graduated daughter in bridal finery, and then, because the daughter wants, sees her off happily to America to pursue her dreams.

The tiff between the lovers seemed unnatural. Varun’s premise for breakup, might not be totally impossible, but considering the characters belong to Young India, confident, outgoing, all achieving; reason behind backing out of the relationship seemed weak. Also it’s a love story, show some love, fight for it!

Vidisha’s character, stumbles in and out of being heartbroken and deciding which fashionable cloth to wear.

The language is gripping but I couldn’t help but cringe at the excessive use of slangs. Granted its youth ‘lingo’, but could have easily been spared, especially as it is a written work.

The last 60 pages of the book seem hurried, impatient, at places confused.

There were some proofreading errors, and some confusion in portrayal of couple of incidents.

Teenagers and young adults, wishing to recapture their fantasies can browse through the book, as a story- it’s been there, done that. 

On the above criteria I rate **1/2

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My Take- Love Forever @ Rajpath Approved….As Proposed by Kalpana Mishra

The 5 star rating is on the following criteria:

  Story/Concept/Plot             * 

Characterisation                   *

Language/Expression           *

Entertainment/Message        *

Publishing (job done or not)  *

Love Forever @ Rajpath is story of, holier than thou Shalini, and Kartik. The narration tells, how a woman would go to any length, sometimes giving up on their own happiness for family and love, forgive the biggest mistakes, even put her own life on line. Shalini is one such strong woman. Kartik is a cultured man with principles who wishes to play a part to bring about change, but is bound by family values.

The problems they encounter  because of the people they are, and how they overcome their hurdles  is brought to us in this narrative. 

Shalini and Kartik meet on the first day of their appointment in a Government office and struggle to fall in love. 

The proposal and the acceptance takes a long while, mainly because the protagonist, Shalini sees marriage as end of life, certain that an arranged match would be retrogressive. Shalini finds it hard to fall in love, because of her insecurities, need to be proper at all times and inability to trust.

Kartik has been treated as untrustworthy, spineless and sort of untouchable, his crime being, he was a ‘Bihari’. Hailing from, Deoghar (Jharkhand) labelled as Bihari, makes it impossible for Shalini to believe he could be like any other man.

The main and supporting characters are loaded with prejudices, and these prejudices play major role in the story rather than the characters.

As a love story it really doesn’t do much, the incident I found kind of romantic was when the characters write a formal letter proposing their love, and the proposal gets accepted in the same tone. 

As a sneak-peek into a Government office, the novel gives a fair idea.

Two important issues have been approached in the book, lack of public facilities, and culture of Zabran Shaadi, prevalent in Bihar, UP and other rigid northern states of India. 

But the presentation is lacklustre. The incident of “ladies’ toilet” I found rude, rather than funny. The way the protagonist behaved couldn’t possibly set right example.  

The characterisation and narration is one dimensional, with the characters being happy or sad, agree or don’t agree, too righteous. I couldn’t really connect to the characters because the story is told and not presented with dialogues. Most of the time, I felt like I was reading essays, especially the end of scenes.

On the above mentioned criteria, I rate it **

PS: I need to point out, some geographical aspects of our country, Bihar and Jharkhand are two different states, Bihar was divided in the year 2000. 16 years on, looks like the records remain un-updated.

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