Book reviews by DD

'doctor stalker spy' by usha narayanan

11/12/2017

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Honestly, this book goes on to prove that genre-fixation is hugely overrated.

Having read a couple of mythological books from her, I found it hard to believe that Ms Narayanan would ever write a Y.A. rom-com. Well, she did, and how well at that !?

Doctor, Stalker, Spy is one of the best and seemingly real romances I've read in a long while. The author has studied her subjects to a deep extent, which is evident in all her character portrayals. The dilemmas and challenges a 20-something faces, all seem so real and relatable.

This one is undoubtedly, yet another master stroke by Ms. Narayanan!! I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

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'avishi' by saiswaroopa iyer

11/12/2017

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Being a multi-genre writer and reader has its own set of advantages. One of them being, you're never short of topics.

Mythology and ancient Indian history are two of my current loves. It was the primary reason, why I immediately agreed to read and review 'Avishi' by Saiswaroopa Iyer, when offered.

Women are often said to have been more aware and empowered in the ancient times than they are now, and this book only goes on to reinstate that fact. Based on the known life story of Vishpala, the queen of Ashtagani, Avishi is an engrossing tale of hardships, determination, love, and war in the ancient India.

WHAT I LIKED:
I really liked the way the author has gone on to portray each and every character in the story. The locales, although fictional, are well defined and almost seem real. Ms. Iyer, evidently, has taken great pains in researching about the ancient time about which not much is known or documented, and that is visible throughout the story.

WHAT I DIDN'T:
My only complaint, if any, is the overtly use of tough Hindi names of people and places. Considering the fact that it is but fiction, the author could have made it a little bit easier for readers like me, who are not very well versed with the nuances of Sanskrit or Prakrit dialects that seem to have a very strong influence in the nomenclature.

IN A NUTSHELL:
Overall, I would say 'Avishi' is a must-read for everyone who is interested in knowing and understanding the India of the bygone era. I give 'Avishi' by Saiswaroopa Iyer, a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

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'the royal roommate' by p. g. van

11/12/2017

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I'm a big fan of cocktails. I'll mix dark rum with Tomato juice, put sugar syrup in vodka, or even pineapple juice in my scotch. Some of them work, some don't. Okay, most don't; but that's not the point I'm getting at. The point, dear readers, is that I'm a mix freak. I don't like to be bound inside brackets, and the same applies to my choice of reads. I like genre-hopping.
'The Royal Roommate' by P.G. Van gave me exactly that. It is a well-crafted cocktail of romance, with suspense, a little bit of thrill, and a good, healthy dose of hot steaming sex. Rarely have I read love-making scenes written in such boldness, and definitely never by a writer of Indian origin. Kudos, to P.G.V. for that!

WHAT I LIKED
The plot is strong, the narrative is more-or-less evenly paced, the language is easy and modern, and the characters seem real and relatable.

WHAT I DIDN'T
The romantic interactions between the protagonists could have been portrayed slower, better and longer. Now that I sit to think about that part, it almost read like a 2-minutes instant noodle. I'd have liked some more flirtation, some more tension and conflicts between the protagonists.

MY VERDICT
I recommend this book to everyone who is a fan of sexy romance, served with a scoop each of thriller and suspense.

I give 'The Royal Roommate', a 4 out of 5 stars.

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'the wrong turn' by sanjay chopra & namita roy ghose

11/12/2017

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There are some books you just HATE to review. 'The Wrong Turn' is one of them, for two reasons.
Firstly, you hate doing it, because reviewing it means you've finished reading them, they've ended; and you just don't want them to end. You want them to go on and on. They're so good!
Secondly, it's hard to review them. What do you write in praise of a book that ticks all the boxes for being a masterpiece? Where do you look for appropriate adjectives?
Alright, I'll give it a try, I have to. 'Love and betrayal in the Time of Netaji', that's what the tagline says. It was enough in itself, to pique my interest. Little did I know that those were just two of the innumerable emotions, I'd encounter in the book. There's drama, action, compassion, loyalty, jealousy, hatred, avarice, greed, pride, and wrath; all skillfully mixed up and presented with the finesse of a french cuisine. Wait, I think I missed something? Oh yes, there's happiness too.
Now,we all might have read one or a few books on Indian history at some point. Trust me, this is not one of them. Although, it talks about one of the most important moments in the Indian freedom struggle- the one that British refer to as the greatest battle they had fought in the last 400 years, the twin battle of Kohima and Imphal- the facts are blended well with fiction, making it an even more interesting and gripping read.
WHAT I LIKED:
The plot is researched and well-knit. The story flows at a quick and steady pace; no dull moment there. The characters are relatable and likeable. The locales are well-sketched and intriguing. The writer duo has managed to play quite expertly with the emotional roller-coaster of the reader, hitting them at regular intervals with a twist here and an unexpected turn there.
WHAT I DIDN'T:
I'm not sure, if my complaint fits in here or not; because this one has nothing to do with the writing, editing, or the proofreading. This has to do with the formatting, which the publisher should have taken care of. I'm reading a long paragraph about Deb's life and suddenly the next one starts talking about Nishonko, without any indication that one part has ended and another is about to start. It wouldn't have been too difficult to put an ellipsis or some other symbol to indicate it.
Apart from that, 'The Wrong Turn' is an excellent book that has all the making of a bestselling masterpiece, one that would stay in the minds of the readers for a long time. I strongly recommend this book to.... well, everyone who loves to read a well-written book.
My congratulations to the authors, Sanjay Chopra and Namita Roy Ghose!
I give this book, a full five out of five stars.

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'jugnu- firefly' by ruchi singh

11/12/2017

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The battery meter on my tab is bright red in color right now, and I'm still ignoring the 1%warning on it. Yes, 1% battery left. It was 65%, when I started reading 'Jugnu'. Ruchi Singh, I shall hold you responsible if my tab dies of malnutrition. What I'm trying to say here is that once you start reading it, you shall not be able to put the book down, not even for charging the tab...or yourself. That reminds me, I'm yet to have my dinner.

On a serious note, this book definitely is among the best romances I've read in a long time. The characterization is lively, the locales are real, the flow is smooth, and the build-up is palpitating.

What made it even more interesting for me was the fact that I had been on vacation to Kasauli, just a week before picking up this book. That's a serene hill-station, where the story of 'Jugnu' is set. Everything seemed that much more real to me, as I could visualize the locales clearly.

Read the blurb, and you'd want to read it at the soonest. I recommend this book to all those out there, who believe in love. In fact, I recommend it even more strongly to those who don't.

I give this book a full, five star.

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'the prince's special bride' by devika fernando

11/12/2017

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Disclaimer: Two genres I prefer to read the least are Horror and Romance; and both for the same reason too.
Having said that, there are a few writers who you just can't not read; doesn't matter the genre. For me, Ms. Fernando is one such writer par excellence. An impeccable command over the language, allows her to portray the characters and locales so aesthetically that they almost seem to be right there in front of you.
'The Prince's Special Bride' is only the third novel by Ms. Fernando that I've read; and I find her to be rapidly growing into a master storyteller with each one. Schnell wachsend...

WHAT I LIKED:
As mentioned earlier, the locales have been exquisitely portrayed, while the characters are well defined. Christian, Marie, Olivia, the Queen, Sebastian, all the characters sounded true-to-life. Places like the Kingdom of Taragonia, the Royal Palace, and Kuramathi Island in the Maldives are described in such enchanting details that one almost longs to be there.
An un-hurried, steady pace of narration has been maintained throughout the novel, which makes the reading all the more easy and interesting.

WHAT I DIDN'T:
Not much there to not like, really. However, I do have my two cents for Ms. Fernando. Change your proofreader, please! It pains to see typos and leftovers, in such a lovely book.

WOULD I RECOMMEND?:
Yes, I'd insist! An absolute must-buy for the readers of romance.

I give 'The Prince's Special Bride', a 5 out of 5 stars.

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'the indus challenge' by r. durgadoss

11/12/2017

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This one, I'll start with congratulating the author, R. Durgadoss, on the brilliant research work done for the book. It could not have been easy diving to such depth into India's history, given that it is being twisted and rewritten everyday to suit the political weather.

What I liked:
The characters are well defined, as was expected in a historical. The locales are descriptive. The narrative is easy and flowing.

What I didn't:
The dialogues, at some places, sounded ineffective, misplaced, and even repetitive. For example, 'Marriage is a three-ring circle: Engagement ring, wedding ring, and suffering', is not something I'd expect Rudra to be saying to his wife. Or, Acharya Chanakya could not have said, 'First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win'; I'm sure Gandhi said that, much later.

Apart from the above, 'The Indus Challenge' is a fantastic read. I recommend it to every historical fiction aficionado out there.

I give the book, a four out of five stars.

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'A SEASON FOR DYING' by Sharmishtha Shenoy

11/12/2017

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I had read Sharmishtha Shenoy's earlier book, 'Vikram Rana Investigates', and quite liked her style of writing. So, when she approached me to read and review her latest in the series, 'A Season for Dying', I immediately agreed; and I'm glad that I did.

While the first book saw the protagonist, Vikram Rana, investigate a high-profile murder, this one sees him trying to catch a serial killer on the loose in the city of Hyderabad.

The author clearly loves reading crime fiction, and that is evident in her writing too. Like any good student, she grasps and liberally uses various forensic nuances in her writing that she gathers from her favorite authors like Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. As a result, she is growing and improving in her writing with each book. I must say, I shall eagerly look forward to reading her future work.

'A Season for Dying' is a crisp, sharp, fast-paced, and gripping read; and I recommend it to all those who like reading the genre.

My only complaint, if any, with the book is that it has some glaring typos and grammatical errors that could have been easily avoided. Except for the proofreading, or the lack thereof, I loved the book.

I give 'A Season for Dying', four and a half out of five stars.

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book review: 'the princess of a whorehouse'.

4/4/2017

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'The Princess of a Whorehouse'. One look at the title, and I knew I HAD to read the book. There are not very many books that deal with a sensitive topic like this; and for a debut writer to chose a topic like this as his launch-pad is commendable in itself. I congratulate Mayank Sharma, for having made the brave decision.
However, a topic like this warrants a lot of patience and sensitivity, failing which, the whole thing is susceptible to fall flat. Unfortunately, that is exactly what seems to have happened with 'TPOAW'.
I wish: the writer had been more patient with the book and not rushed it; the writer had gone for experienced beta readers, before handing his baby over to the publishers; the publisher had the wisdom or brains to run it through editors and proofreaders; the publisher had not only thought about minting money, but also giving its worth somehow, to the writer!
The entire narrative seems to be abrupt and full of potholes. The characters needed far better development. While the characters have not been adequately developed; the locales have mostly been overtly described. I don't want to know about all the places in the entire route from Laxmi Nagar to the South-west of Delhi, or that India gate is a war memorial for soldiers who lost their lives in WW1 between 1914-21. My history teacher had already taught me all that. The dialogues could have been crisper and more real. For example, how do you expect an illiterate lady coming from a village in Jharkhand, to use words like, '...victim of the repercussions of a repressed society'? These are the words of the writer; while, as a reader, I want to hear what that lady would say.
More than the writer, I blame the publishers, Notion Press, for doing a shoddy work...once again. A debut writer needs hand-holding, s/he needs to be shown the difference between an OK and a good write; and that is the job of the publisher. Be honest to your profession and refuse to take the book you don't like, up for publishing. But, once you do take it up, give it your best; spend time and effort on it and make sure that what comes out is the best possible version. Sadly, they have not done any of that; and the writer has lost what could have been a great launch pad, while the readers have lost the opportunity to read a good book on such a brilliant topic.
Mostly for the courage of the writer, I give 'TPOAW', a 3 out of 5 stars.

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BOOK REVIEW: 'Finding Juliet' by taufeeq ahmed

10/2/2017

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If there were three different dishes on my plate, the one that I would finish off first would be, without an exception, the one I liked the least. That way I can enjoy the ones I like more, peacefully.
Why did I feel the need to give you this information, you ask? Well, because I’m going to do the same here. I’m going to give you the bad dishes (read: news) first; i.e. the parts I liked the least in the book.

So, let’s start. ‘Finding Juliet’ is an ideal length novel, with 216 pages, including the Publications and Acknowledgement sections. Normally, a novel of this length would take me around four days to finish. This one, though, took me twice as many. Now, before you jump to your own conclusions, let me give you the reason for this. I started the book on the 1st of February 2017, and by the end of the 2nd, I had given up on it and decided to return it to the author. I found the language as too casual for my taste; so much so that it was bordering on sounding cheap and derogatory to women at some places. That is not something I prefer reading, and certainly not something I enjoy. I had even chalked out a long mail to the author and ‘The Book Club’, citing the reasons why I did not want to read the novel, much less review it online. I could not, however, get down to sending that mail across, owing to one or the other preoccupations- and boy; am I glad that I didn’t!?

In the evening of the 4th, I was having dinner with my wife in one of the fancy restaurant-cum-pub, when I noticed a group of young boys and girls sitting on one of the adjoining tables and enjoying their drinks. To my surprise, the language they were using- and by ‘they’ I mean all of them, including the girls- was strikingly similar to the one used in the book. That is when it dawned on me, that this bunch of guys and girls is the very T.G. the author had in mind while penning the novel; the Y.A. or as the author himself puts it, the Gen-Y.

Needless to say, it took me a good while after reaching back home, before I could rewire my mind to go back some (read: many) years and think like the ‘Gen-Y’. I recollected all the fun stuff we used to do, when we were a part of the proverbial ‘young’ crowd. After that when I picked the book back up the next day, I was better able to relate to the mindset of the protagonist, Arjun. It was then that I realized that the language was not casual; it was the language of today. I loved the novel thereon and finished it in four days. I am writing this review on the end of the 9th.

The casual, informal tone might end up disappointing a few, it is sure to strike well with the T.G. of the book. The author has chosen to tell the story in first person, from the protagonist P.O.V.; and in most part, it tends to flow well. I, however, found the last four chapters to have been rushed. It was as if the writer got bored of his own writing and wanted to, somehow, finish the book and get done with it. The climax definitely warranted a more sincere and sensitive treatment. I wish the editor and proofreader had been a little more careful, as there were some typos and grammatical errors glaring right into your face.

Overall, ‘Finding Juliet’ is a simple, fun read and strictly meant for the youth of today. A word of advice for anybody not belonging to that age bracket; you might want to visit one of those downtown pubs before you get down to read this one. I give ‘Finding Juliet’, 4 out of 5 stars.

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