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jainandsdiary's Reviews (310)
किताब: कोड काकोरी
लेखक: मनोज रंजन त्रिपाठी
शैली: रोमांच/सस्पेंस
पृष्ठ: 258
रेटिंग: 4/5
कोड काकोरी किताब से लेखक मनोज राजन त्रिपाठी जी ने साहित्यिक लेखन में पदार्पण किया है। यह उनका पहला उपन्यास, जो कि थ्रिलर एवं रहस्य से भरपूर है, लगभग 258 पृष्ठों का है। कोड काकोरी कहानी घूमती है काकोरी जगह के आस पास। क्षेत्रफल एवं आबादी की दृष्टि से तो काकोरी छोटा सा है, लेकिन यहां का इतिहास बहुत बड़ा है। जैसे काकोरी में जन्मा, बड़ा प्रख्यात "काकोरी कबाब", 9 अगस्त 1925 को काकोरी काण्ड हुआ, और 19 दिसंबर 1927 को रामप्रसाद बिस्मिल, अशफाक उल्ला खां, राजेंद्रनाथ लाहिड़ी और रोशन सिंह को फांसी दी गई थी। इस वजह से यह जगह ऐतिहासिक दृष्टि से काफ़ी प्रसिद्ध है। लेखक ने कहानी को इस तरह पिरोया है, कि कहानी के धागे वर्तमान समय में चलते हुए, अतीत के धागों से कुछ मेल खाते एवं गूथे हुए नज़र आते हैं।
लेखन की दृष्टि से मनोज जी ने इस उपन्यास को काफ़ी रोमांचक एवं दिमाग के घोड़ों को चुस्त दुरुस्त करने लायक लिखा है। कहानी कब शुरू होकर कब ख़त्म हो जाती है पता ही नहीं चलता। लेखन का जो प्रवाह है, वह इसकी विशेषता है। जिस प्रकार नदी जब पर्वत से निकलकर समद्र तक का रास्ता नापती है, और जो रास्ते में कभी धीमी, कभी तेज़, कभी शांत, कभी विकट रूप लेते हुए, अपने गंतव्य तक पहुंचती है, बस यह कहानी भी कुछ इसी तरह आगे बढ़ती है। शुरू में कहानी नदी की तरह अपना रास्ता तलाशती हुई जहां आगे बढ़ती है, बीच बीच में वह कभी एकदम तेज़ हो जाती है और कहीं धीमी पड़ जाती है, पर अंत तक आते आते अपने साथ एक अलग किस्म का एहसास और तजुर्बा लाते हुए, अपनी मंज़िल तक पहुंच जाती है।
यूं तो मनोज जी ने लेखन प्रणाली से पाठक के रोमांच की रगों को बखूबी पकड़ा है। कहानी रोमांच, सस्पेंस और सशक्त किरदारों से भरपूर है। लेकिन कहानी में मुस्लिम किरदार बहुत अधिक है, यह इसकी परेशानी नहीं है, लेकिन इन किरदारों के नाम आपस में बहुत मिलते जुलते है, जिसकी वजह से पढ़ने में थोड़ी मुश्किल होती है और बीच बीच में कहानी के सिरे कहीं उलझे हुए लगते हैं। बाकि अगर पूरी किताब देखी जाए तो एक शानदार किताब है, जो मनोरंजन के लिए भरपूर है।
लेखक: मनोज रंजन त्रिपाठी
शैली: रोमांच/सस्पेंस
पृष्ठ: 258
रेटिंग: 4/5
कोड काकोरी किताब से लेखक मनोज राजन त्रिपाठी जी ने साहित्यिक लेखन में पदार्पण किया है। यह उनका पहला उपन्यास, जो कि थ्रिलर एवं रहस्य से भरपूर है, लगभग 258 पृष्ठों का है। कोड काकोरी कहानी घूमती है काकोरी जगह के आस पास। क्षेत्रफल एवं आबादी की दृष्टि से तो काकोरी छोटा सा है, लेकिन यहां का इतिहास बहुत बड़ा है। जैसे काकोरी में जन्मा, बड़ा प्रख्यात "काकोरी कबाब", 9 अगस्त 1925 को काकोरी काण्ड हुआ, और 19 दिसंबर 1927 को रामप्रसाद बिस्मिल, अशफाक उल्ला खां, राजेंद्रनाथ लाहिड़ी और रोशन सिंह को फांसी दी गई थी। इस वजह से यह जगह ऐतिहासिक दृष्टि से काफ़ी प्रसिद्ध है। लेखक ने कहानी को इस तरह पिरोया है, कि कहानी के धागे वर्तमान समय में चलते हुए, अतीत के धागों से कुछ मेल खाते एवं गूथे हुए नज़र आते हैं।
लेखन की दृष्टि से मनोज जी ने इस उपन्यास को काफ़ी रोमांचक एवं दिमाग के घोड़ों को चुस्त दुरुस्त करने लायक लिखा है। कहानी कब शुरू होकर कब ख़त्म हो जाती है पता ही नहीं चलता। लेखन का जो प्रवाह है, वह इसकी विशेषता है। जिस प्रकार नदी जब पर्वत से निकलकर समद्र तक का रास्ता नापती है, और जो रास्ते में कभी धीमी, कभी तेज़, कभी शांत, कभी विकट रूप लेते हुए, अपने गंतव्य तक पहुंचती है, बस यह कहानी भी कुछ इसी तरह आगे बढ़ती है। शुरू में कहानी नदी की तरह अपना रास्ता तलाशती हुई जहां आगे बढ़ती है, बीच बीच में वह कभी एकदम तेज़ हो जाती है और कहीं धीमी पड़ जाती है, पर अंत तक आते आते अपने साथ एक अलग किस्म का एहसास और तजुर्बा लाते हुए, अपनी मंज़िल तक पहुंच जाती है।
यूं तो मनोज जी ने लेखन प्रणाली से पाठक के रोमांच की रगों को बखूबी पकड़ा है। कहानी रोमांच, सस्पेंस और सशक्त किरदारों से भरपूर है। लेकिन कहानी में मुस्लिम किरदार बहुत अधिक है, यह इसकी परेशानी नहीं है, लेकिन इन किरदारों के नाम आपस में बहुत मिलते जुलते है, जिसकी वजह से पढ़ने में थोड़ी मुश्किल होती है और बीच बीच में कहानी के सिरे कहीं उलझे हुए लगते हैं। बाकि अगर पूरी किताब देखी जाए तो एक शानदार किताब है, जो मनोरंजन के लिए भरपूर है।
Should I be happy that we(means as boys) got one period off each week when girls were attending some sessions on "their things" or sad that the education system does not provide education about periods and menstruation to all?
Many questions like this need to arise and they do arise from time to time and to answer them comes something which not only gives answers to that questions but fills the void of education, awareness, and much-needed talk and discussion that needs to be done, and today, I am talking about that something that came on my way!
"The Red Colored Bliss" is an anthology of short stories, poetry, and letters, conceptualized, compiled, and edited by Samridhi Aneja. This book does not talk only about menstruation and periods, but also about bleeding, pain, society, stereotypes and stigmas, rituals, beliefs, education, the education system, and much more!
Written by various people, this book tries to bring a change that is much needed in society. In the editor's note in the book, Samridhi Aneja says and I quote it here, "Some compositions in the book will make you blush, some will give a sense of victory, and some will be shocking revelations. Some might even make you judge your own self and question the jargon you have been using to address the process we are referring to here. I’ll be glad if the book hits even just one conscience." and I could not find better words than of the editor itself to tell you why this book is here! And it is right to say that this book just not only hits the conscience but also can bring the change through actions that are much needed in today's times, where we, as a country are heading towards being modern and developed and are still rooted with the problems of menstruation!
As this book consists of short stories, poems and letters, so everyone can read it, the one they are inclined to read as per their interest or all the parts as well as it is something which needs to be read! And so now, you have no excuse to say that you can't read because it is not your preferred genre!
This book is recommended to everyone. This book is a must-read, a book that everyone should read and make people around them read it as well!
Many questions like this need to arise and they do arise from time to time and to answer them comes something which not only gives answers to that questions but fills the void of education, awareness, and much-needed talk and discussion that needs to be done, and today, I am talking about that something that came on my way!
"The Red Colored Bliss" is an anthology of short stories, poetry, and letters, conceptualized, compiled, and edited by Samridhi Aneja. This book does not talk only about menstruation and periods, but also about bleeding, pain, society, stereotypes and stigmas, rituals, beliefs, education, the education system, and much more!
Written by various people, this book tries to bring a change that is much needed in society. In the editor's note in the book, Samridhi Aneja says and I quote it here, "Some compositions in the book will make you blush, some will give a sense of victory, and some will be shocking revelations. Some might even make you judge your own self and question the jargon you have been using to address the process we are referring to here. I’ll be glad if the book hits even just one conscience." and I could not find better words than of the editor itself to tell you why this book is here! And it is right to say that this book just not only hits the conscience but also can bring the change through actions that are much needed in today's times, where we, as a country are heading towards being modern and developed and are still rooted with the problems of menstruation!
As this book consists of short stories, poems and letters, so everyone can read it, the one they are inclined to read as per their interest or all the parts as well as it is something which needs to be read! And so now, you have no excuse to say that you can't read because it is not your preferred genre!
This book is recommended to everyone. This book is a must-read, a book that everyone should read and make people around them read it as well!
साइकिल की चैन कहानी है राहुल और अंजली की!
नाम कुछ ज़्यादा ही सुने सुने लगते हैं।
फिल्मों में इन नामों को इतनी बार देखा और सुना गया है की अब ये फीके फीके लगते हैं।
लेकिन क्या कहानी भी ऐसी ही है, फीकी फीकी?
वैसे इस कहानी को इन नामों से अलग रखते हुए देखे तो कहानी काफ़ी उत्कृष्ट तरीके से लिखी गई है।
हर बचपन का प्यार (आप इसे बसपन भी पढ़ सकते है, बस अंतर इतना है कि कहानी के किरदारों में परिपक्वता है) मृगतृष्णा हो ज़रूरी नहीं। कुछ किरदार अपने आप में गहराइयां ले आते है। और अगर न ला पाए, तो परिस्थितियां इस बात की पूर्ति कर देती है। बस कुछ ऐसा ही समझ लीजिए इस कहानी के किरदारों के साथ भी।
बचपन का प्यार का बड़े होकर भी वैसा ही रहता है या कुछ बदल सा जाता है? बचपन का प्यार प्यार होता भी है या सिर्फ आकर्षण बनकर रह जाता है? क्या हर कहानी में अगर घर की आर्थिक स्थिति और जाति अलग हो, तो क्या कहानी वैसी ही घिसी पीटी हो जाती है क्या?
वैसे इन सवालों के जवाब जानने के लिए तो आपको कहानी पढ़नी पढ़ेगी। मैं तो सिर्फ़ अपना किस्सा इस कहानी के हिस्सों के हिसाब से बता सकता हूं। कहानी अच्छी है या यूं कहा जाए साधारण कहानी अच्छी तरह से लिखी गई है तो बेहतर होगा। भाषा काफ़ी सरल है एवं इस वजह से पढ़ना बहुत ही आसान रहा। पूरी कहानी वैसे तो "फील गुड" वाले तरीके से लिखी गई है, लेकिन अंतिम कुछ भाग आपको भावुक बनाने के लिए पर्याप्त है। और वैसे ये "नई वाली हिंदी" की कहानी है, तो बिना ज्यादा कुछ बोले भी आप समझ सकते है कि कहानी से क्या अपेक्षा रखी जाए।
बाकी हां, इतना ज़रूर है, कि कहानी काफी साधारण है और कुछ हद तक पूर्वकथनीय भी, तो ऐसा कुछ आपको लगेगा नहीं जो आपके रोंगटे खड़े कर दे। अगर आप एक ऐसी कहानी पढ़ना चाहते है, जो आपको सुकून दे और आप शांति से बिना अपने दिमाग के घोड़े दौड़ाए पढ़ सके, तो ये कहानी आपके लिए है। Storytel पर इसे सुनना काफ़ी अच्छा अनुभव रहा। नैरेटर साहब, जिन्हें कथा वाचक ही कहा जाए तो बेहतर होगा ने इस कहानी को बहुत ही बढ़िया तरीके से प्रस्तुत किया है। बाकी हां, कहानी सुनकर मज़ा आ गया। साधारण सी कहानी में अमित जी की आवाज़ ने जान डाल दी है।
Rating: 4/5 (story), 5/5 (narration)
नाम कुछ ज़्यादा ही सुने सुने लगते हैं।
फिल्मों में इन नामों को इतनी बार देखा और सुना गया है की अब ये फीके फीके लगते हैं।
लेकिन क्या कहानी भी ऐसी ही है, फीकी फीकी?
वैसे इस कहानी को इन नामों से अलग रखते हुए देखे तो कहानी काफ़ी उत्कृष्ट तरीके से लिखी गई है।
हर बचपन का प्यार (आप इसे बसपन भी पढ़ सकते है, बस अंतर इतना है कि कहानी के किरदारों में परिपक्वता है) मृगतृष्णा हो ज़रूरी नहीं। कुछ किरदार अपने आप में गहराइयां ले आते है। और अगर न ला पाए, तो परिस्थितियां इस बात की पूर्ति कर देती है। बस कुछ ऐसा ही समझ लीजिए इस कहानी के किरदारों के साथ भी।
बचपन का प्यार का बड़े होकर भी वैसा ही रहता है या कुछ बदल सा जाता है? बचपन का प्यार प्यार होता भी है या सिर्फ आकर्षण बनकर रह जाता है? क्या हर कहानी में अगर घर की आर्थिक स्थिति और जाति अलग हो, तो क्या कहानी वैसी ही घिसी पीटी हो जाती है क्या?
वैसे इन सवालों के जवाब जानने के लिए तो आपको कहानी पढ़नी पढ़ेगी। मैं तो सिर्फ़ अपना किस्सा इस कहानी के हिस्सों के हिसाब से बता सकता हूं। कहानी अच्छी है या यूं कहा जाए साधारण कहानी अच्छी तरह से लिखी गई है तो बेहतर होगा। भाषा काफ़ी सरल है एवं इस वजह से पढ़ना बहुत ही आसान रहा। पूरी कहानी वैसे तो "फील गुड" वाले तरीके से लिखी गई है, लेकिन अंतिम कुछ भाग आपको भावुक बनाने के लिए पर्याप्त है। और वैसे ये "नई वाली हिंदी" की कहानी है, तो बिना ज्यादा कुछ बोले भी आप समझ सकते है कि कहानी से क्या अपेक्षा रखी जाए।
बाकी हां, इतना ज़रूर है, कि कहानी काफी साधारण है और कुछ हद तक पूर्वकथनीय भी, तो ऐसा कुछ आपको लगेगा नहीं जो आपके रोंगटे खड़े कर दे। अगर आप एक ऐसी कहानी पढ़ना चाहते है, जो आपको सुकून दे और आप शांति से बिना अपने दिमाग के घोड़े दौड़ाए पढ़ सके, तो ये कहानी आपके लिए है। Storytel पर इसे सुनना काफ़ी अच्छा अनुभव रहा। नैरेटर साहब, जिन्हें कथा वाचक ही कहा जाए तो बेहतर होगा ने इस कहानी को बहुत ही बढ़िया तरीके से प्रस्तुत किया है। बाकी हां, कहानी सुनकर मज़ा आ गया। साधारण सी कहानी में अमित जी की आवाज़ ने जान डाल दी है।
Rating: 4/5 (story), 5/5 (narration)
Manan(मनन) is a Hindi word, meaning to meditate, think, or thought, and thus this book, as the title suggests delves deeper into oneself and empowers women to find a purpose.
The book is a collection of nine narratives of women from very different and diverse field, each one has either crossed the age of 60 or are on the verge of doing so and is sharing their life stories and learnings. Crossing the age of 60 changes a lot of things and finding purpose for life after that might be difficult, specially for women, and this book specifically focuses on this.
Coming from a normal background like most of us, there is a sense of belongingness, relatability, and mutual feelings in most of their stories. Their story, their words of wisdom, their mistakes, and their life lessons offer a lot to not only women in particular but everyone who reads it.
Written in very easy language and narrative, this book can be finished in a sitting or two. Most of the time, it feels like we are listening to our elder ones talking to us and giving life lessons. If you are someone who wants to start reading books in this genre, you can go with it!
Complete review on Blog! Link
The book is a collection of nine narratives of women from very different and diverse field, each one has either crossed the age of 60 or are on the verge of doing so and is sharing their life stories and learnings. Crossing the age of 60 changes a lot of things and finding purpose for life after that might be difficult, specially for women, and this book specifically focuses on this.
Coming from a normal background like most of us, there is a sense of belongingness, relatability, and mutual feelings in most of their stories. Their story, their words of wisdom, their mistakes, and their life lessons offer a lot to not only women in particular but everyone who reads it.
Written in very easy language and narrative, this book can be finished in a sitting or two. Most of the time, it feels like we are listening to our elder ones talking to us and giving life lessons. If you are someone who wants to start reading books in this genre, you can go with it!
Complete review on Blog! Link
A Stalker's Obsession is the debut book of Pearl's Narration. This is the first book in the Obsessions Series, a series about stalking, romance, and manipulation!
This is the story of Prachi, who is running a content production and digital marketing company with her friend Ria, and has worked hard to get to the position where she is today! Having loving parents and a sister-like friend beside her, she is not ready to invest herself in a romantic relationship now! But what happens when Arjun enters her life, a real state businessman, who wants Prachi in her life at any cost? What will happen to Prachi when there is a stalker in her life, who is obsessed with him and gets everything in his life that he wants? How their paths have tangled and why has the stalking obsession game been there? To get to know more about it, read the book!
The book is written exceptionally well and I haven't thought that in a debut book, the hot romance scenes, chemistry, and equations between the characters will be shown so well! The way the past uncovers in the story of both the characters and specially, at the places where it should be come out was fascinating to read. The relationship of the protagonists with their friends, siblings, and parents is portrayed beautifully and I enjoyed that scenes as well. The ending was something which I thoroughly enjoyed and it was something that I was expecting!
Although some threads need to be pulled out, since it is a series, so I know the author has kept them like this for future books. And it makes it more interesting and intriguing for the next book in the series! The only thing which I wanted more from this book was some scenes from Jabalpur! As the story is set in Bangalore and Jabalpur, and since it is mentioned in the first chapter, I was hoping to see some beauty of that place in the book which was missing!
I will recommend it to all those who are looking forward to a hot romance book but just be ready for the erotic scenes, it definitely has them! I will give it 4/5 stars.
This is the story of Prachi, who is running a content production and digital marketing company with her friend Ria, and has worked hard to get to the position where she is today! Having loving parents and a sister-like friend beside her, she is not ready to invest herself in a romantic relationship now! But what happens when Arjun enters her life, a real state businessman, who wants Prachi in her life at any cost? What will happen to Prachi when there is a stalker in her life, who is obsessed with him and gets everything in his life that he wants? How their paths have tangled and why has the stalking obsession game been there? To get to know more about it, read the book!
The book is written exceptionally well and I haven't thought that in a debut book, the hot romance scenes, chemistry, and equations between the characters will be shown so well! The way the past uncovers in the story of both the characters and specially, at the places where it should be come out was fascinating to read. The relationship of the protagonists with their friends, siblings, and parents is portrayed beautifully and I enjoyed that scenes as well. The ending was something which I thoroughly enjoyed and it was something that I was expecting!
Although some threads need to be pulled out, since it is a series, so I know the author has kept them like this for future books. And it makes it more interesting and intriguing for the next book in the series! The only thing which I wanted more from this book was some scenes from Jabalpur! As the story is set in Bangalore and Jabalpur, and since it is mentioned in the first chapter, I was hoping to see some beauty of that place in the book which was missing!
I will recommend it to all those who are looking forward to a hot romance book but just be ready for the erotic scenes, it definitely has them! I will give it 4/5 stars.
Maya by Acharya Prashant is a book that tells us about the concept of Maya in detail in around 352 pages. Complied with the format of a book now from the interactions and questionnaire he had with the audience earlier, and so the book follows the questionnaire format throughout the book. Divided into three parts and 35 chapters, the book talks in detail about the concept of Maya, the new age spirituality, and wisdom.
We all have heard about the word Maya and thus prejudices, interpretations, and some stereotypes always come with it when we hear this word. And so, a real understanding of the concept of Maya is important. The author has tried to present the concepts in simple words for the readers to understand easily and make them feel connected with the topics. The author has a deep knowledge of the topic and concept which reflects in the book. The quotes and lines at the start and end of each chapter are interesting and give food for thought, and imagination, and help in picking up the interest of the readers. There were many things in some chapters that I liked and some lessons conveyed through the stories were great to read which helps to understand the concepts better.
Although in some places, the information feels overloaded and repetitive, making it a slow read as well. The questionnaire format at places felt underwhelming and the need to articulate it in the form was felt so that people can understand it as a reader instead of understanding it as a listener, which is the original form of the concepts here. The book also wasn’t able to keep up my interest for long.
If you are someone who is looking forward to reading something about this concept, and able to take things useful for you out of all, you can check out the book. I would give this book 3.25 out of 5 stars.
We all have heard about the word Maya and thus prejudices, interpretations, and some stereotypes always come with it when we hear this word. And so, a real understanding of the concept of Maya is important. The author has tried to present the concepts in simple words for the readers to understand easily and make them feel connected with the topics. The author has a deep knowledge of the topic and concept which reflects in the book. The quotes and lines at the start and end of each chapter are interesting and give food for thought, and imagination, and help in picking up the interest of the readers. There were many things in some chapters that I liked and some lessons conveyed through the stories were great to read which helps to understand the concepts better.
Although in some places, the information feels overloaded and repetitive, making it a slow read as well. The questionnaire format at places felt underwhelming and the need to articulate it in the form was felt so that people can understand it as a reader instead of understanding it as a listener, which is the original form of the concepts here. The book also wasn’t able to keep up my interest for long.
If you are someone who is looking forward to reading something about this concept, and able to take things useful for you out of all, you can check out the book. I would give this book 3.25 out of 5 stars.
This is a collection of short stories that are written by authors from millennial and Gen Z, exploring the dimensions of different parts of the country and their work. Coming from various perspectives and ideologies, the short stories lover should definitely check it out.
Book: Not You Please
Author: Anuradha Dev
Format: E-book
Genre: Romance Fiction
Pages: 253
Not You Please is the debut book by author Anuradha Dev. A contemporary romance fiction, having the enemy to-lovers and love triangle trope, this book was a surprise read.
This is the story of Mishti, a high school girl, introvert, topper, and someone who wishes to go to New York University. But here comes the hurdle, Vikram Sethi, a hot attractive guy, but a bully! She had already tolerated the humiliation in middle school by him and no longer wants to see his face, but her English Teacher assigned a group project, and guess what, Vikram is in her group, and the only thing that keeps her going ahead with this project is the third member in the group, Saahil, her crush!
What will happen next when they all three will have to spend time together? Will the old wounds emerge again or would they give a new way by healing it and for a new beginning? Would Saahil help her in dealing with Vikram or their dynamics will lead to another trouble? To know more about it, read the book.
I was completely immersed in the book from the first few pages itself, as the writing was so lucid and free-flowing, thus making me completely invested in it. I couldn't stop myself and completed it in a day, in only two-three sittings. The character development was quite interesting and you can see the inner turmoil and dilemma of the characters quite clearly.
The little elements in the book were a treat for me. From the equation with the English Teacher to the description of the librarian, from not knowing their batchmates to getting out of the comfort space and trying new things, from making online friends to being in a friendship with someone you least expect, from keeping up the secrets to spoil them and make things complicated, this book has it all! And I loved every bit of it.
The ending was a little unreal for me to grasp and I felt the characters were from college last year than the school, but it doesn't hinder the joy of reading the book, as the story was quite fulfilling and enjoyable.
If you are looking forward to reading a book that felt like a cup of tea or coffee in the cold winter, this book is for you. A book, with all the elements of comfort in it.
Author: Anuradha Dev
Format: E-book
Genre: Romance Fiction
Pages: 253
Not You Please is the debut book by author Anuradha Dev. A contemporary romance fiction, having the enemy to-lovers and love triangle trope, this book was a surprise read.
This is the story of Mishti, a high school girl, introvert, topper, and someone who wishes to go to New York University. But here comes the hurdle, Vikram Sethi, a hot attractive guy, but a bully! She had already tolerated the humiliation in middle school by him and no longer wants to see his face, but her English Teacher assigned a group project, and guess what, Vikram is in her group, and the only thing that keeps her going ahead with this project is the third member in the group, Saahil, her crush!
What will happen next when they all three will have to spend time together? Will the old wounds emerge again or would they give a new way by healing it and for a new beginning? Would Saahil help her in dealing with Vikram or their dynamics will lead to another trouble? To know more about it, read the book.
I was completely immersed in the book from the first few pages itself, as the writing was so lucid and free-flowing, thus making me completely invested in it. I couldn't stop myself and completed it in a day, in only two-three sittings. The character development was quite interesting and you can see the inner turmoil and dilemma of the characters quite clearly.
The little elements in the book were a treat for me. From the equation with the English Teacher to the description of the librarian, from not knowing their batchmates to getting out of the comfort space and trying new things, from making online friends to being in a friendship with someone you least expect, from keeping up the secrets to spoil them and make things complicated, this book has it all! And I loved every bit of it.
The ending was a little unreal for me to grasp and I felt the characters were from college last year than the school, but it doesn't hinder the joy of reading the book, as the story was quite fulfilling and enjoyable.
If you are looking forward to reading a book that felt like a cup of tea or coffee in the cold winter, this book is for you. A book, with all the elements of comfort in it.
Book: Dark Star
Author: Ranbir Sidhu
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/ Women's Fiction
Publisher: Context
Pages: 152
Dark Star by Ranbir Sidhu is not just a tale of partition through the thoughts and musings of an old woman, who is longing and dreaming of an India before Partition, who wants to tell the ruler of India her thoughts, views, and opinions but a book covering a lot of issues in between, throughout its journey.
Divided into three parts, the character of the old woman ages with the story, you could see how her thoughts get affected as time passes, and how her experience starts taking new shape with time, giving new perspectives, new dimensions, new possibilities, and at the same time the convergence of it as well!
The writing style of the author is quite different, giving the story a very unique shape and flow, neither being character nor plot oriented in the beginning, finding another way to present the story, through the chain of thoughts, emotions, and musings, to being a little character focused towards the end.
There are extreme political opinions in the book at instances, which can easily ignite rage in the readers. The comments of the Old Women on news channels, on politicians, on violence, on migration, on marriages, on love, on longing, and on dreams diversify the story. The book is not just another book on the partition, it's one of a kind!
The subtle change that the author brings in the writing is the key point of the book. You won't remember how you have gone from one context to another, one thought to another, one analogy to another, one event to another, and how magnificently some of them take comes to an end from the point they started, making a full circle.
The writing of the author is very rich and will need time to absorb, to take away what is written, and to unfold what is hidden and what is conveyed. It feels like even if you don't know what the story is about if you open a page randomly and start reading it, you'll get something thought-provoking from it. And that's the beauty of the writing. The analogies that the author gives here in the story are very distinctive and out of the box, giving a completely new point of view and perspective about the topics it talks about, making a unique connection with the readers at the same time.
The ending of the book made me a little restless and unsatisfactory, making me crave more from it, although being presented the same as I thought and predicted it would be. It could be taken as a master stroke from the author, to make the reader go through the same emotion which the character was going through or as a shortcoming at the same time, completely depending on the reader, how they perceive it, and I'll leave it to you, to know how you feel about it after reading the book.
Thank you to the publisher for the book in exchange for an honest review!
Author: Ranbir Sidhu
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/ Women's Fiction
Publisher: Context
Pages: 152
Dark Star by Ranbir Sidhu is not just a tale of partition through the thoughts and musings of an old woman, who is longing and dreaming of an India before Partition, who wants to tell the ruler of India her thoughts, views, and opinions but a book covering a lot of issues in between, throughout its journey.
Divided into three parts, the character of the old woman ages with the story, you could see how her thoughts get affected as time passes, and how her experience starts taking new shape with time, giving new perspectives, new dimensions, new possibilities, and at the same time the convergence of it as well!
The writing style of the author is quite different, giving the story a very unique shape and flow, neither being character nor plot oriented in the beginning, finding another way to present the story, through the chain of thoughts, emotions, and musings, to being a little character focused towards the end.
There are extreme political opinions in the book at instances, which can easily ignite rage in the readers. The comments of the Old Women on news channels, on politicians, on violence, on migration, on marriages, on love, on longing, and on dreams diversify the story. The book is not just another book on the partition, it's one of a kind!
The subtle change that the author brings in the writing is the key point of the book. You won't remember how you have gone from one context to another, one thought to another, one analogy to another, one event to another, and how magnificently some of them take comes to an end from the point they started, making a full circle.
The writing of the author is very rich and will need time to absorb, to take away what is written, and to unfold what is hidden and what is conveyed. It feels like even if you don't know what the story is about if you open a page randomly and start reading it, you'll get something thought-provoking from it. And that's the beauty of the writing. The analogies that the author gives here in the story are very distinctive and out of the box, giving a completely new point of view and perspective about the topics it talks about, making a unique connection with the readers at the same time.
The ending of the book made me a little restless and unsatisfactory, making me crave more from it, although being presented the same as I thought and predicted it would be. It could be taken as a master stroke from the author, to make the reader go through the same emotion which the character was going through or as a shortcoming at the same time, completely depending on the reader, how they perceive it, and I'll leave it to you, to know how you feel about it after reading the book.
Thank you to the publisher for the book in exchange for an honest review!