Today I am sharing my thoughts on BHAIRAVI: THE RUNAWAY, by Shivani urf Gaura Pant, an era-defining Hindi author, whose works are often paralleled to Jane Austen’s.
Bhairavi: The Runaway by Shivani
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(This blog post also contains a review copy that was sent to me by publishers. However, all opinions expressed are my own and in no way influenced by external parties)
A still, dense, ancient forest. A dark cave deep within. And in it a woman-child whose beauty can move the most pious to sin. Who is she and why did she jump from a moving train to land in the biggest cremation ground teeming with Aghori Sadhus?
In this story spanning generations and redolent with Gothic imagery, Shivani urf Gaura Pant tells the story of a woman’s life, her moral and mental strength, and her resilience. She also examines the choices women have in her beautiful, descriptive prose. With an erudite foreword by her daughter and scholar, Mrinal Pande, and a preface by the translator, this book is Shivani for the 21st-century reader.
Bhairavi was a stunning book and I loved it in its entirety. Even during the parts where the characters were not particularly likable or the situation they were going through was not entirely conducive, I thought that it was so real and something that could have perhaps happened to someone we know.
Narrative technique in Bhairavi
Talking about the writing style and the language used, I think it was very earthy and very Indian in the sense that even though it was in English, it really had an essence that was essentially that of a particular people and their cultures. It also had a very folktale-ish vibe as if it is an oral story that is being narrated to you. I think this is because of the ways in which the author has incorporated the folktale traditions of India into her writing – for instance, when narrating the anecdotes or talking of the relationships between people and so on.
Mother-daughter dynamic in Bhairavi
Then comes the most compelling and riveting and at the same time, the off-putting relationship of the mother-daughter duo. Chandan is a beautiful girl, an ‘apsara’ and that is the reason and excuse for why her mother binds her in the way she does. Rajeshwari is an over-protective mother and when one learns of her past, it is in a way the reason why she is like that. But then again, having gone through what she had as a young girl, I believe she should have been more understanding of her daughter and her wishes.
In that case, I suppose the saying is right – we grow up to be like our parents. But is that justification enough? Is it even right? While I believe it is certainly getting better in contemporary times, I cannot deny that there are still some parents who unjustifiably coddle their daughters. Let me rephrase that, they are over-protective and downright oppressive. Wouldn’t that explain why so many of the kids we know nowadays, are good at sneaking and lying? I think a certain bit of leniency is needed so that both the kid and parents learn to trust each other’s decisions and not lie and sneak around.
Human prejudices in Bhairavi
There are also various prejudices that were shown via the thoughts of Rajswari in this book. Westernized people do not get any respect from her; rather, she curses her meat-eating neighbour and then is surprised by the way modern women live. All in all, I do believe it is a good reflection of the times that the book is set in, but I do hope we take a lesson from it. Just because it used to be that way in that past, doesn’t mean we do not change the way it goes.
Bhairavi in the end
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and Chandan’s journey was a long and learning one. Of course when the book ended, she still had a long way to go. However, she finally was in control of her fate and life, as it were. Beautiful writing and real-living characters, with an honest portrayal of the various issues that plagued society then (and in some ways, even now)!
Audiobooks are one heck of a way to get into reading, to be honest! I love that they make me free to do other household chores. I am often listening to audiobooks while I wash the dishes, water the plants, or take a walk. However, I do understand that audiobooks can be daunting for many of us, especially non-native speakers of English. So today, I’ll be sharing a few tips and recommendations and I hope you will all find them beneficial!
Delving into audiobooks!
Here are the 8 tips which will probably help you all, just as they helped me when I was starting with audiobooks!!
Audiobooks: How-to Pt. 1
Begin with a light read – like a poetry collection, or conversely, begin with a fast-paced thriller! For me, it was the fast-paced thriller/literary fiction that did the job – Long Bright River by Liz Moore.
Often as a beginner, listening to an audiobook can distract you if you are doing something that requires you to be actively focused on it, as opposed to doing the job by mere muscle memory. That is why I personally recommend you to first start with doing such muscle-memory jobs while listening to audiobooks.
This tip is especially for non-native English speakers, myself being one such example. Obviously it is difficult to understand someone who is speaking very fast. As such, I would recommend you to perhaps start with 1x and then increase the speed as you grow comfortable. I personally have become accustomed to 2x now.
The way a particular narrator narrates the tale, can make it or break it for the reader. Of course, this is subjective for every reader, and so if you have perhaps heard someone say that a particular audiobook (that you have been meaning to listen to) is not really great, don’t simply give up. Check it out! On the same note, always try to listen to the sample track before buying the audiobook for the same reason. Check it out before you commit to it or before you completely push it aside.
Audiobooks: How-to Pt. 2
If you are struggling to get into a physical book, then try to read it while also listening to the audiobook. This is a way of active learning, so perhaps you can also do it for college/school/work readings.
Always try to look at it in a positive manner. If you go in, thinking you won’t enjoy listening to audiobooks, chances are, you probably won’t. So keep an open mind!
Do not get discouraged. Since it is your first time delving into an audiobook, chances are there might be a couple of misses before the hook clicks in!
Lastly, check out my Audiobook Playlist on Youtube where there are quite a few audiobooks. Moreover, Librivox.org is a good source to get audiobooks!
Here I am also sharing recommendations of fabulous audiobooks (based on my personal experience, as well as recommendations I have come across!) I hope you all fall in love with audiobooks too! Here’s to a happy journey into a new world!
This was a
modern-day marriage-of-convenience story that was a beautiful combination of
tradition, romance and family values. I love how the author has given an
Eastern twist to it – since most of the stories that follow this trope are set
in the western world. I feel that when it comes to the Eastern side of the
world, it just gets a lot more complicated. We have a family to deal with, we
have extended family to deal with and so on.
I loved how these characters were well rounded. Apart from the budding romance, there are also the subplots – mostly the hurdles the two characters are trying to overcome. Garrett and Natalie are two people who are goal-oriented and know what they want. Garrett was the perfect alpha male – he was so encouraging and applauded Natalie’s business acumen.
I also loved that he was not the obsessive possessive lover that seems to be the equation nowadays. The way they blossomed was great – both as a couple as well as individually. The power imbalance, however, surprisingly was not much of a deterrent in their relationship and I huffed in satisfaction at that. Also, the sexual build-up was great although they did seem to have instant chemistry.
However, one thing that I did not particularly like was how each chapter would begin suddenly. There was no thread of continuity there and I would have appreciated it if there were. However, it was a quick and interesting love story! I rated it 4/5 stars!
A truly atmospheric read, I Will Miss You Tomorrow by Heine Bakkeid, was a strange and compelling read. I quite enjoyed it!
I Will Miss You Tomorrow by Heine Bakkeid
A Stephen King heir?
Firstly, I have never read anything like this before. But seeing as to how the author has been called Stephen King’s Norwegian heir, I will take that as a sign to go pick up King’s book soon.
Unreliable narrator
Moving on, this book is also the epitome of a thriller with an unreliable narrator. Recently, ‘domestic thrillers’ seem to have taken the reading sphere by storm and something that is common to them all is the unreliable narrator trope. So perhaps if you have been a fan of Gone Girl, The Girl On The Train, Into The Water, The Woman in cabin 10, etc, this is the book for you. And another thing that I have not come across before is an unreliable male narrator. So it was quite a new angle.
An atmospheric and thrilling edge-of-the-seat plot!
The overall plot takes place roughly across two weeks but the terrible weather makes it feel much longer. The details are vividly written and in its realistic portrayal, this book was novel for me. I really enjoyed reading it a lot.
A realistic atmospheric sense
There were weird paranormal/supernatural segments which were another twist added to the tale. I think this has been the perfect book for me to read, in order to expand my reading in this genre.
Characterization and timelines
The character is one of real interest – Thornkild Aske has many dimensions and the way his mind works was unique. His experiences and the way they have shaped him into the person he is now is quite a journey. The shifts in timelines were also a great addition to the narrative style that the author has taken up.
This classic poetry collection is an intensely private reflection on Walt Whitman’s attraction to and affection for other men.
The classic poetry collection is an intensely private reflection on Walt Whitman’s attraction to and affection for other men.
One of the most beautiful books that I have ever owned, Live Oak, With Moss, is simply filled to the brim with the poet’s haunting love for the beloved. Whitman’s longing just soaks the page and flows to your heart. The way the poet has combined nature with these poems is stunning. It made these so much more potent, real and raw. Apart from this burgeoning sense of longing, these subtly erotic poems are filled with the hope for a distant time and place when there will be a wholesome space for all these men to gather and simply be themselves.
I am reading Song of Myself from Leaves of Grass, for a class this semester. So, reading Live Oak, With Moss was illuminating in a way I never thought possible. I was overwhelmed by the words and the emotions they swelled up in me.
Live Oak, With Moss, is without a doubt, one of the best collections I have ever read and felt.
Impossible Causes was an atmospheric thriller and it was one hell of a ride, and when I first picked it up, I had not expected it to take the turn that it had.
Atmospheric
setting
The whole idea of a secluded island with a tightly knit religious community was very interesting, hence, no wonder I pounced on it as soon as I could. However, I have to admit that the synopsis did not do justice to the actual story.
The world-building, so to say, was on point and could give you goosebumps because of its excellence, and the book has an atmospheric feel. The fogs on the island made me feel claustrophobic and such was the imagery presented by the author.
We have two-time lines – one is the current one where we follow Viola after the ‘discovery’ of the body, and the other is a past timeline from the time of Viola’s arrival on the island; but the continuous jumps between the two timelines and the narrators were a bit abrupt and took me by surprise. It took some time for me to get used to that.
The beginning was a bit slow and I had to push myself; however, contrarily, I was hooked on in a strange way. The thing was that in the beginning, there were bits, which were unnecessary and yet, I kept reading on because I wanted to resolve the entire issue. In was only towards the latter half that I was actually on the edge of my seat trying to wonder where it was going. For all the hype, I think that this book falls short and I wasn’t that very excited to know much about the actual death, but apart from these issues, I think the story was well made.
Themes
The book covers themes such as secrecy, the power of voice, collective conscience, rape culture, misogyny, sexism, etc. The way in which the author has written the plot to encompass the universal issues that plague us was mind-blowing. The themes were excellent. I could not really guess what was happening until quite a bit past from the midway point.
Overall, it was quite an interesting read and I rate it 3.75/5 stars.
The Octopus Curse is a poetry collection by Dr. Salma Forook and I have yet to come across a more aesthetic anthology of poetry. Needless to say I loved it!
The Octopus Curse by Salma Farook is a collection of powerful poems, focusing on love, heartbreak, resilience, travel, self-love, feminity and women’s issues, etc. I have read What Your Soul Already Knows by the author last year and I had found it to be the best motivational book there ever was, without sounding too preachy and such. As such, when the author approached me for her second book, of course, I had to say yes!
Like her previous book, the words in this book too continue to be just as meaningful and full of depth. I love how the execution has been made. The words are rhythmic and lyrical and thus very heart warming as well as soothing to the ears. Through these different pieces, the author has inspired the reader to confront their feelings and accept them and most importantly, to be at peace with themselves.
How stunted,
Limited,
This language is!
I have searched and searched
But, never found a word
For pain coming so surely,
That you feel it already,
Long before it
Even arrives.
-‘Visceral’
Aesthetic:
The book is a work of art and a more aesthetic poetry collection, I have yet to come across. I am so glad I got to read this book when I did because this was just the right time for me. Perhaps, if I had read it at some other moment of my life, it wouldn’t have touched me as much as it has. Many thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy.
I pray that death be kind,
Not as much to the buried,
As to those left behind.
-‘Funerals are for the living’
Here’s one poem that I absolutely loved. Check this one out!
You lift your chin up
Like the cocking of a gun
Your eyes flash the coldest fire,
Your words erupt,
The hottest ice.
I see you wear your anger
Like a bulletproof vest
Over your pain; I must say,
Even as you walk away,
It looks bloody glorious
On you
-‘Woman’
You can also check out the book here: Amazon (the ebook is free upto 5th of November), Goodreads
Toni Morrison’s debut novel immerses us in the
tragic, torn lives of a poor black family – Pauline, Cholly, Sam and Pecola –
in post-Depression 1940s Ohio. Unlovely and unloved, Pecola prays each night
for blue eyes like those of her privileged white schoolfellows. At once
intimate and expansive, unsparing in its truth-telling, The Bluest Eye shows
how the past savagely defines the present.
My review:
I read The Bluest Eye for the #tonimorrisonreadathon organized by Vidya @letsdiscussourbooks. Thanks a lot for arranging this readathon!
The Bluest Eye was her first novel, published in 1970,
and it is a controversial novel still, for showing themes of incest, child
molestation, racism etc. By the time I had finished reading the last page, I
was blown away by the lyrical quality of Morrison’s writing. The repetitions
sometimes sound like a mantra that beats at your mind as you read of the
terrible beauty that is this book.
The shifting narratives offer glimpses into the lives
of the various characters – letting us understand how certain past events
shaped them into what they were in the present. What is important, is the
psychological implications the book also portrays throughout these shifting
perspectives. It is a wonder, that Morrison wrote things that still affect the
human race today – in that she is a writer on the human tragedies that are
eternal and everlasting.
The mental space is a big motif in this book. Later
on, when we see a life of Soaphead Church, we can infer from the writing that
his disgust against the dog directly reflects his internal feelings toward
himself. Much like Cholly, he uses Pecola for his own pleasure, although not in
a similar manner.
The Bluest
Eye was a beautifully terrible book – for its simplicity, and yet, the stark
truth reflected within the pages. No matter what the era, one will always seem
to relate on a micro level with the characters, their struggles and hopes and
wishes. Replete with the truest essence of humanness, Toni Morrison’s The
Bluest Eye is one of the best books ever. I rate it 5/5 stars.
About the
reviewer:
Nayanika Saikia, is one of
the foremost book reviewers from the North-east and Assam, and is also an admin
for the official India bookstagram page on Instagram. She publishes her own
reviews and recommendations for poetry, fiction, non-fiction etc. on her bookstagram
account @pretty_little_bibliophile which won the NorthEast Creator Awards 2018,
as well as in daily newspapers, online magazines etc. She can be contacted at nayanikasaikia98@gmail.com .
Selkies, wyverns, witches, and giants. Perilous
quests, true love, and animals that talk.
The traditional stories of Ireland, Scotland,
Brittany, and Wales transport us to the fantastical world of Celtic folklore.
These timeless tales brim with wit and magic, and each on is brought to life
with elegant silhouette art in this special illustrated edition.
My review:
I received
a review copy from the publishers in return for an honest review. Opinions
expressed in this review are completely my own.
This
was an absolute delight! I am so glad I could read this amazing set of tales,
so full of magic and fantasy! I have never read any folktales from these places
in the world, to be honest, and I loved every second I was immersed in them!
Separated
into the categories of Tricksters, the Sea, Quests, and Romance, the stories
all come with some amazing illustrations by Kate Forrester, and as is common to
all folktales, morals. I found some similar tales in Nordic Tales as well and
so it is really interesting to see that there are such overlaps in all our
different cultures too! I absolutely enjoyed it and am giving it to my brother
to read!
Verdict:
A gem! 5/5 stars!
About the reviewer:
Nayanika
Saikia, is one of the foremost book reviewers from the North-east and Assam,
and is also an admin for the official India bookstagram page on Instagram. She
publishes her own reviews and recommendations for poetry, fiction, non-fiction
etc. on her bookstagram account @pretty_little_bibliophile which won the
NorthEast Creator Awards 2018, as well as in daily newspapers, online magazines
etc. She can be contacted at nayanikasaikia98@gmail.com .
The Dark Side Of The Moon is a collection of
short stories that is dark, grim and flirts ambitiously with notions of the
unexplained.
Volume 2 marks the return of the series with
another set of three thrilling, crisply narrated tales –
DECEMBER
Cold. Rainy. Windy. A typical December night in
Mussourie. The police receives a distress call. Typical for stormy nights, as
they say. But this night will be different. This night will be longer. This
night will remain unexplained.
THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON – THE STORY
Humans haven’t been on the moon since 1972. They
have decided to return – though this time to the dark side of the moon, where
no human has ever set foot before. What does the unknown hold?
SEVENTY METERS
The swift morning breeze soothes her hair. The
tinkling wind-chimes call her to the window. She looks at him smiling in his
sleep. She smiles too. But that’s been a rarity for them.
Does love, like time, wither away as it’s consumed?
My review:
I received
a review copy from the author in return for an honest review. Opinions
expressed in this review are completely my own.
I
have not been much of a horror fan but… Shubham Arora had me hooked with his
first volume. And when he reached out to me for the second one, I was already jumping
with joy. That is another story in itself so we’ll keep that aside for now.
In
comparison to the first volume, I think the author’s writing has improved
immensely. Most importantly, he knows how to deliver a punch at the end, just
as succinctly.
In
the first story, December, the writing is very atmospheric and is enough to
give you the chills. When the story actually starts, and we venture into the
mansion, I almost felt as if something is going to jump out of the shadows, at
me. As a reader, I couldn’t help but feel as if I was a part of the story
itself and the instances were happening to me too.
The
stories have become creepier, with the eponymous The Dark Side of the Moon
being the creepiest of them all. I loved how he has taken on this urban myth
and given it his own twist. The idea itself, when you sit back and think about
it – being stranded on a strange place (the dark side of the moon, for God’s
sake!) The way this story is told – especially in day counts, is one that
really makes you tensed up as if awaiting the climax, the twist you know is
coming.
The
last story is Seventy Meters, and from the name, I could guess what the ending would
have been. Although the least favourite from all three, this was, a good story
too, although I did not think it was scary. In a strange sort of way, it was
actually sad.
Verdict:
It
was an enjoyable read and I hope to read more of the author’s writing. I rate
it 4.5/5 stars.
About the
reviewer:
Nayanika
Saikia, is one of the foremost book reviewers from the North-east and Assam,
and is also an admin for the official India bookstagram page on Instagram. She
publishes her own reviews and recommendations for poetry, fiction, non-fiction
etc. on her bookstagram account @pretty_little_bibliophile which won the
NorthEast Creator Awards 2018, as well as in daily newspapers, online magazines
etc. She can be contacted at nayanikasaikia98@gmail.com .
Publisher: Rock the
Boat, an imprint of Oneworld Publications
Publication date: 6 June
2019
Genre: Science
fiction/fantasy
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
No. of pages: 470
Synopsis:
From the internationally bestselling authors of THE ILLUMINAE FILES comes an epic new science fiction adventure.
The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the Academy would touch…
A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates A smart-ass techwiz with the galaxy’s biggest chip on his shoulder An alien warrior with anger management issues A tomboy pilot who’s totally not into him, in case you were wondering
And Ty’s squad isn’t even his biggest problem—that’d be Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, the girl he’s just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler’s squad of losers, discipline-cases and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy.
They’re not the heroes we deserve. They’re just the ones we could find. Nobody panic.
My review:
I received
a review copy from the publishers in return for an honest review. Opinions
expressed in this review are completely my own.
Superfluously
saying, if the cover does not make you pick up the book itself, then I’m sure
the synopsis will. Aurora Rising is an adventure story, set in space, one that
is bound to keep you turning the pages on and on, eager to know what happens
next. I was literally at the edge of my seat when I was sitting and reading,
and had to actually sit up in attention, when I had been lazing on my bed while
reading. Such is the writing of this powerful duo. I finished this book in like
5 hours and I went crazy throughout!
I’ve
never been a fan of sci-fi, to be honest. So many of us are not. But Aurora
Rising has completely made us switch sides! Although this book is so often described
as a SIX OF CROWS set in space, the only similarity I found was the presence of
this crew, where each one is so very different from the other. Through all the different
characters in this bunch, we see similarities in what each of them faces. The leader
of this team in known as the Alpha and he is Tyler, the golden-boy. He misses
the Draft because he is rescuing a girl frozen in time. So basically instead of
having his pick from the best, by the time he returns, the ceremony is over and
the other Alphas have picked the cream. Throughout the story, we see the inner
conflict in Tyler – he regrets that he was missing at the Draft but then again,
he was rescuing this historically significant person in their universe. Later on,
he is conflicted as to whether be the good pupil he has always been and follow
the orders of his superiors, or to do what he believes is right.
There
is also Scarlett, Tyler’s twin sister who is bold and flawed and yet is so very
caring. The brother-sister bond that these two share is so much beautiful to
see. Their love is always shining bright between them. And may I just say how
wonderfully charming she is? Scarlett is the Face of the group, the diplomat
basically and is an amazing people-person.
Then
we have the Ace – Cat. She is a very passionate person I feel. She hates with
all her might and she loves with all her might. Her love is real and made me
choke so many times. Her character arc is very relatable – her feelings towards
Aurora change from hate to respect and I love that the authors have made her so
bold. Women are too often subdued anyway.
Aurora
is literally the girl out of time. She had been cryogenically sleeping, you
could say, for 200 years, without ageing. And now, her dilemma and confusion as
she comes to terms with her new surroundings and learns more about what happened
to her that has led her here, is heartwarming. Her behaviour is funny and so
very awkward at times with the rest of the team and I couldn’t help but laugh
at so many parts. Her character arc is also significant in this story and
although I think there could be more to it, I look forward to the rest of the
books in this series. She is a person of our times and the references she makes
were like Easter eggs to me. Especially Middle Earth!
Finnin,
the alien (that rhymed!) is also another team member. He has always felt different
all his life and his struggles with it – underneath all that sarcasm, is slowly
revealed throughout the story. Zila is a character whose back story has still
not been properly explained in the book and I am very curious about her, I admit.
I look forward to reading more about her.
Lastly,
Kal is oh0my-god hot! If you have a thing for the tall, dark and brooding,
handsome kind. Especially, elfin-handsome kind! Aurora describing him as
Middle-Earth is so relatable and that is how I imagine him too. And may I say
that I am an absolute fan of the mate trope!
The
writing felt very interactive in nature and the reading just flowed for me. I am
absolutely in love with this duo’s writing and so I think that I am slowly going
to pick up and read all of their books. The world-building was also very
fascinating and made me stop and wonder myself, how it would feel like to stay
there – after remembering that I was not actually in the story. There’s humour
and the characters are so fierce in their natures, it was a fast-paced ride of
a read! The plot was very strong and the inclusion of multiple POVs worked
wonderfully with it. When there are so many characters, having multiple POVs
often make the story lose its beauty but in this case, it only gave more depth
to it.
Verdict:
I loved this book and I rate it a solid 5/5 stars! I know this review sounded more like an ode to these amazing complex but lovable characters, but god! You all need to pick it up ASAP!
About the reviewer:
Nayanika
Saikia, is one of the foremost book reviewers from the North-east and Assam,
and is also an admin for the official India bookstagram page on Instagram. She
publishes her own reviews and recommendations for poetry, fiction, non-fiction
etc. on her bookstagram account @pretty_little_bibliophile which won the
NorthEast Creator Awards 2018, as well as in daily newspapers, online magazines
etc. She can be contacted at nayanikasaikia98@gmail.com .
Genre: General
Fiction (adult), Mystery and Thriller
Format: E-arc
Language: English
Synopsis:
Two sisters raised in fear are about to find out
why in a chilling novel of psychological suspense from the author of The Thinnest Air.
Ignorant of civilization and cautioned against its evils,
nineteen-year-old Wren and her two sisters, Sage and Evie, were raised in
off-the-grid isolation in a primitive cabin in upstate New York. When the
youngest grows gravely ill, their mother leaves with the child to get help from
a nearby town. And they never return.
As months pass, hope vanishes. Supplies are low. Livestock are dying. A
brutal winter is bearing down. Then comes the stranger. He claims to be looking
for the girls’ mother, and he’s not leaving without them.
To escape, Wren and her sister must break the rule they’ve grown up
with: never go beyond the forest.
Past the thicket of dread, they come upon a house on the other side of
the pines. This is where Wren and Sage must confront something more chilling
than the unknowable. They’ll discover what’s been hidden from them, what
they’re running from, and the secrets that have left them in the dark their
entire lives.
My review:
I received
a review copy from Netgalley in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed
in this review are completely my own.
I
went into this book really intrigued – the synopsis was enough to arouse my curiosity
and the narrative gripping enough to keep me hooked in until the very end. The whole
trope of the unreliable protagonist is an interesting one and I personally love
it. After reading books like The Woman
in the Window, Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train etc., I was looking for more such domestic thrillers
and this book’s synopsis promised to deliver.
The
plot was well stitched together. At one point, I thought I knew how it was
going to end, but boy, was I wrong! The entire narrative had a jigsaw like feel
and in the beginning I had no idea how the author would possibly intertwine the
two storylines into one. The themes were universal and as such, I believe that
many readers will b able to relate to
them; some are relationships, dealing with authoritarian figures, infidelity,
keeping secrets, identity crisis etc. Of course, there are my interpretations.
The
character of Nicolette also underwent growth – she is absolutely different at
the end, from the way she was at the beginning of the book. The anagnorisis in
relation to her character is enormous and lends the narrative great depth and
feeling. Brant is also an interesting character and although not the
protagonist himself, his role is just as important.
Wren
and Sag also undergo growth and this is very important as we see them dealing
with various issues that most teenagers may perhaps relate to, (I am talking
about the happenings towards the end; needless to say, I wish no one has to go
through what they did).
The
writing style is flawless – it flows and gives a very lucid effect to the narrative.
Apart from the twist and the jaw-dropping end, the characters too were amazing
and had such great depth!
Verdict:
I
absolutely enjoyed the book and I hope to read something similar from the author
soon! I really enjoyed the book and I rate it a 4/5 stars!
About the reviewer:
Nayanika
Saikia, is one of the foremost book reviewers from the North-east and Assam,
and is also an admin for the official India bookstagram page on Instagram. She
publishes her own reviews and recommendations for poetry, fiction, non-fiction
etc. on her bookstagram account @pretty_little_bibliophile which won the
NorthEast Creator Awards 2018, as well as in daily newspapers, online magazines
etc. She can be contacted at nayanikasaikia98@gmail.com .
The definitive story of Harley Quinn by her co-creator, Paul
Dini, and Pat Cadigan, revealing the secrets of her history even as she seeks
to kill Batman.
Dr. Harleen Quinzel grew up in an abusive household with a
criminal and became a psychologist to deal with her own broken family. At
Arkham Asylum, she attempted to treat the Joker and instead fell hopelessly in
love with him, helping him escape and becoming a member of his organization.
Quinzel became Harley Quinn, a bizarre contradiction of violence and mercy. She
blames Batman for her inability to maintain a stable relationship with the
arch-villain, and that causes her to have an abiding hatred for the hero, who
she seeks to kill. Upon capture she becomes a violent inmate at Belle Reve
Penitentiary, and is assigned to the group of government-maintained super
villains known as the Suicide Squad.
I
received a review copy for the publishers in return for an honest review.
Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Mad Love
was a fun and truly mad read and I enjoyed every bit of it.
This book
gave quite an insight to this infamous villain’s life – why she is how she is
and what made her that way. The most major themes that I saw throughout the
novel was the deceptiveness of appearances and how crucial it is to know the
reality of things. On a deeper level, things are never as they appear to be on
the surface. In the beginning the tone is in third person limited – Daddy this
and Daddy that. It is as if Harleen cannot really make all of her own decisions
and looks up to her Daddy for them. In retrospect, it is so much the situation
that occurs when she is under the Joker’s spell. She looks up to him this time.
I think, the underneath all of these,
Harleen does not lose her innocence and faith in these two authority
figures. Is she naïve? Or dumb? I understand that this is a polarizing concept.
But I believe that there is not always a good side and a bad side – we often
forget about the grey areas and only look at the startling black and white.
Mad Love is
a psychological novel to boot! There were so many nuances regarding human
behavior – as Harleen grew up and studied psychology, and then started
practicing it at Arkham Asylum. There is also a great play at words – both in
the narrator’s case and the Joker’s as well. The manner of writing was just as
enjoyable and easy to understand. The character arc of Harleen was a very
dynamic one – I feel that she goes through a lot and her story is one that had
needed to be told. The writers did justice to the character as well as the
plotline.
Verdict:
I quite
enjoyed reading this book and I rate it a 4/5 stars!
About
the author:
Paul Dini is an American television
producer of animated cartoons. He is best known as a producer and writer for
several Warner Bros./DC Comics series, including Star Wars: Ewoks, Tiny Toon
Adventures, Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, The New
Batman/Superman Adventures, Batman Beyond and Duck Dodgers. He also developed
and scripted Krypto the Superdog and contributed scripts to Animaniacs (he
created Minerva Mink), Freakazoid, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited.
After leaving Warner Bros. In early 2004, Dini went on to write and story edit
the popular ABC adventure series Lost.
About
the reviewer:
Nayanika
Saikia, is one of the foremost book reviewers from the North-east and Assam,
and is also an admin for the official India bookstagram page on Instagram. She
publishes her own reviews and recommendations for poetry, fiction, non-fiction
etc. on her bookstagram account @pretty_little_bibliophile which won the
NorthEast Creator Awards 2018, as well as in daily newspapers, online magazines
etc. She can be contacted at nayanikasaikia98@gmail.com .
An extraordinary debut that explores legacies of abuse,
redemption, and the strength of the human spirit–from the Boer Wars in South
Africa to brutal wilderness camps for teenage boys.
South Africa, 1901. It is the height of the second Boer War. Sarah van der Watt
and her six-year-old son Fred are forced from their home on Mulberry Farm. As
the polite invaders welcome them to Bloemfontein Concentration Camp they
promise Sarah and Fred that they will be safe there.
2014. Sixteen-year-old Willem is an outsider. Hoping he will become the man she
wants him to be, his Ma and her boyfriend force Willem to attend the New Dawn
Safari Training Camp where they are proud to make men out of boys. They promise
that he will be safe there.
You Will Be Safe Here is a powerful and urgent novel of two
connected South African stories. Inspired by real events, it uncovers a hidden
colonial history, reveals a dark contemporary secret, and explores the legacy
of violence and our will to survive.
My
review:
I
received a review copy for the publishers in return for an honest review.
Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I
absolutely loved reading YOU WILL BE SAFE HERE. This is a poignant story that
really touched my heart and I have changed after reading it. There are 4 parts
in the story.
The first
part is written in an epistolary format – in the form of a diary. The ton of
Sarah van der Watt is so tragic. I found – not overtly so, but in its
undercurrent – I could feel it as I read – Sarah’s knowledge that the need of
her world as she knew it, was near. Things would greatly change and it is as if
she is deliberately and often times forcefully trying to be cheerful – why not
enjoy the last few days before all hell breaks loose?
Some lines
I liked were –
“There is
strangely little to do now but wait.”
During this
period of the second Boer War, the Kaffirs were freed by the English. The
resulting chaos was a great scar on the lives of so many people – both whites
and blacks. I was also pleasantly surprised by the resilience of the people –
specifically Sarah van der Watt and basically everyone else. It also talks about the feminine issues –
both social, and historical – the suppression of women and the masculine power play
over them, their objectification, etc. I
also loved that Samuel, the husband had been such a supportive husband to
Sarah, as we learn from the diary entries. Later on, the entries make you cry –
just reading of the utter inhuman situations that they, along with so many
other people were subjected to. The flashback method was also great and gives
great depth to the story.
One thing
that I really enjoyed was the inclusion of the literary references. It made the
text very relatable to the reader, as it surely did for me!
Throughout
all the different parts, the Southern Cross is a recurring motif. I interpreted
it as an objective correlative for the concepts of hope and strength that it
bestowed on the different characters. The use of regional words at certain
places give a certain authenticity to the text and a sense of reality.
In part 2,
Willem says “They wouldn’t understand, they never understand” which I think
resonates among so many teenagers, when thinking of adults and authority
figures.
One of the
major themes that I saw throughout Part 2 is that of toxic masculinity. For
instance, seeing Willem cry in desperation once, Jan had turned away – after
all, boys do not cry. We also see domestic abuse scenario in this part.
Later, when
Willem is at the camp and Rayna misses him. She understands that at the camp he
would be forced to do what they have wanted him to do always – things that
other boys do generally. “It’s these markers of his willingness to try that
break her heart”.
I really loved Rayna’s character. She is the
epitome of an independent and hardworking woman. When Irma accuses her saying
she could never “keep a man” Rayna says, “I never needed one… Maybe I wanted
one, sometimes but I never needed one. Not like you” and that is such a
powerful sentiment. Rayna is an inspiring woman just as Sarah.
Verdict:
This is one
of the best books I have read in my life, let alone in 2019. I rate it a 5/5
stars and will definitely be picking it up again.
About
the author:
‘Maggie & Me’ is my memoir and ‘You Will Be Safe Here’ is
my first novel (out in April 2019). You can follow me on twitter @damian_barr
and insta @mrdamianbarr. I host my own Literary Salon at the Savoy: www.theliterarysalon.co.uk
‘Maggie & Me’ is my memoir of surviving small-town
Scotland in the Thatcher years. It won Sunday Times Memoir of the Year:
“Full to the brim with poignancy, humour, brutality and energetic and
sometimes shimmering prose, the book confounds one’s assumptions about those
years and drenches the whole era in an emotionally charged comic grandeur. It
is hugely affecting.” BBC Radio 4 made it a Book of the Week. Following
Jeanette Winterson in 2012, Stonewall named me Writer of the Year 2013.
I host my own Literary Salon at the Savoy.
Guests include: Jojo Moyes, Bret Easton Ellis, John Waters, Mary Beard, James
Frey, David Nicholls, Colm Toibin, Taiye Selasi, Susan Calman, David Mitchell
and Rose McGowan. Do enjoy our podcast!
Commended as Columnist of the Year, I’ve also
been a journalist for over a decade writing mostly for The Times but also the
Independent, Telegraph, Financial Times, Guardian, Evening Standard and Granta.
I’m currently a columnist for the Big Issue and High Life. My first book, based
on a Times column, was published by Hodder in 2005. ‘Get It Together: A Guide
to Surviving Your Quarterlife Crisis’. I’ve
also co-written two plays for Radio 4 and appeared on PM, Midweek, Broadcasting
House and Today as well as The Verb and presented on Front Row. I live in
Brighton with my partner and our intensely demanding chickens.
About
the reviewer:
Nayanika
Saikia, is one of the foremost book reviewers from the North-east and Assam,
and is also an admin for the official India bookstagram page on Instagram. She publishes
her own reviews and recommendations for poetry, fiction, non-fiction etc. on
her bookstagram account @pretty_little_bibliophile which won the NorthEast
Creator Awards 2018, as well as in daily newspapers, online magazines etc. She can be contacted at nayanikasaikia98@gmail.com .
Publisher: Harper
Voyager, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Genre: Adult fantasy
Format: Paperback
Language: Language
No. of pages: 621
Synopsis:
Return to Daevabad in the spellbinding sequel
to THE CITY OF BRASS.
Nahri’s life changed forever the moment she
accidentally summoned Dara, a formidable, mysterious djinn, during one of her
schemes. Whisked from her home in Cairo, she was thrust into the dazzling royal
court of Daevabadand quickly discovered she would need all her grifter
instincts to survive there.
Now, with Daevabad entrenched in the dark
aftermath of the battle that saw Dara slain at Prince Ali’s hand, Nahri must
forge a new path for herself, without the protection of the guardian who stole
her heart or the counsel of the prince she considered a friend. But even as she
embraces her heritage and the power it holds, she knows she’s been trapped in a
gilded cage, watched by a king who rules from the throne that once belonged to
her familyand one misstep will doom her tribe.
Meanwhile, Ali has been exiled for daring to
defy his father. Hunted by assassins, adrift on the unforgiving copper sands of
his ancestral land, he is forced to rely on the frightening abilities the
maridthe unpredictable water spiritshave gifted him. But in doing so, he
threatens to unearth a terrible secret his family has long kept buried.
And as a new century approaches and the djinn
gather within Daevabad’s towering brass walls for celebrations, a threat brews
unseen in the desolate north. It’s a force that would bring a storm of fire
straight to the city’s gates . . . and one that seeks the aid of a warrior
trapped between worlds, torn between a violent duty he can never escape and a
peace he fears he will never deserve.
My review:
I received a
review copy for the publishers in return for an honest review. Opinions
expressed in this review are completely my own.
The
Kingdom of Copper is the sequel to The City of Brass, the first book is The
Daevabad Trilogy, and oh! What a book! I had absolutely loved reading the first
book and so was very excited to pick up this one.
The
Kingdom of Copper opens 5 years after City of Brass closes. We see quite a bit
of changes in the scenario. Firstly, the environment! It has grown so much more
serious that before and everyone is now being careful of what they say and
think twice before they do so. Nahri’s character has developed – she is so much
better with her skills and I think that by the end of this book she has evolved
even more. Nahri’s character arc is significant in other aspects also – we see
her dealing with a great loos, coping with it and as such, get a glimpse into
the actual situation that she hides behind the façade of being the perfect Banu
Nahida for her people. The way she copes, and goes on despite the pain and the
hurt and the anger, is commendable and really inspiring. I think that she is
portrayed very much as a real woman – in our eyes she is no more than real
flesh and blood.
Ali’s
character has also seen a lot of changes – for instance, he has grown more
serious. The terrible pressure that he has to live under – the burden – never
feels like it until he has to go back to Daevabad and it proves to be his
undoing. We also see Muntadhir is a new light – there is so much more to this
Emir and it has been such an enlightening journey that I have actually started
to quite like this conflicted prince – one who has just as many troubles.
The
plot of this book is just as intricate if not more so. There are so many
unexpected twists and turns that by the time the book ends you are left
reeling! I am very much eager and kind of nervous too to see how the author
wraps up this book. The themes again revolved around mental health and
well-being, societal pressures and expectations, and love, and longing and
coping with loss and so on. Of course these are some of the subtle ones I could
infer from the background. The concept
of faith and the strong belief in one’s faith and also in one’s own self is
quite strong here. Moreover, fantasy is a running element in this series but
the author’s representation of a Muslim fantasy is beautiful and resplendent. I
have absolutely loved reading about this culture (many are fictionalized, of
course) and this world as a whole is so intriguing for the modern reader. This
is truly a nook unlike any.
Verdict:
This
book was dazzling and beautiful and I have no words for it. I do think I love
this book more than the first one and as such I will wholeheartedly rate this
one a solid 5/5 stars!
About the author:
S. A. Chakraborty is a speculative fiction
writer from New York City. Her debut, The City of Brass, was the first book in
The Daevabad Trilogy and has been short-listed for the Locus, British Fantasy
and World Fantasy awards. When not buried in books about Mughal miniatures and
Abbasid political intrigue, she enjoys hiking, knitting, and recreating
unnecessarily complicated medieval meals for her family. You can find her
online at www.sachakraborty.comor on Twitter at @SAChakrabooks where she likes to talk about
history, politics, and Islamic art.
About the reviewer:
Nayanika
Saikia, is one of the foremost book reviewers from the North-east and Assam,
and is also an admin for the official India bookstagram page on Instagram. She
publishes her own reviews and recommendations for poetry, fiction, non-fiction
etc. on her bookstagram account @pretty_little_bibliophile which won the
NorthEast Creator Awards 2018, as well as in daily newspapers, online magazines
etc. She can be contacted at nayanikasaikia98@gmail.com
.
Publisher: Harper
Voyager, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Genre: AdultFantasy
Format: Paperback
Language: English
No. of pages: 530
Synopsis:
Nahri has never believed in magic. Certainly,
she has power; on the streets of 18th century Cairo, she’s a con woman of
unsurpassed talent. But she knows better than anyone that the trade she uses to
get by—palm readings, zars, healings—are all tricks, sleights of hand, learned
skills; a means to the delightful end of swindling Ottoman nobles.
But when Nahri accidentally summons an equally sly, darkly mysterious djinn
warrior to her side during one of her cons, she’s forced to accept that the
magical world she thought only existed in childhood stories is real. For the
warrior tells her a new tale: across hot, windswept sands teeming with
creatures of fire, and rivers where the mythical marid sleep; past ruins of
once-magnificent human metropolises, and mountains where the circling hawks are
not what they seem, lies Daevabad, the legendary city of brass, a city to which
Nahri is irrevocably bound.
In that city, behind gilded brass walls laced with enchantments, behind the six
gates of the six djinn tribes, old resentments are simmering. And when Nahri
decides to enter this world, she learns that true power is fierce and brutal.
That magic cannot shield her from the dangerous web of court politics. That
even the cleverest of schemes can have deadly consequences.
After all, there is a reason they say be careful what you wish for…
My review:
I received a
review copy for the publishers in return for an honest review. Opinions
expressed in this review are completely my own.
For
my first foray into adult fantasy, I think I picked up an awesome book! The
City of Brass was a dazzlingly fantastical read, one that made me jump onto the
sequel as soon as I put down the first.
The
City of Brass is the first book in the Daevabad Series and after being kept
deeply engrossed by the story, I can definitely say that I will continue on
with this one. The plot is set in what we call the Middle-East today and the
setting is lush and beautiful. There is vivid imagery in Chakraborty’s writing
and it conjured up swirling sands and flying carpets and magic in my mind’s
eye.
The
character of Nahri is an entity in herself. She changes considerably from the
beginning until the very end of the novel, as we see the way the various
circumstances around her transform her, and shape her to be one who is an young
independent woman, coming out into this new world and relearning the concept of
survival once again in a totally new environment.
Daya
is also someone who really captured my attention. His history was one that kept
flirting within the reader’s reach and when the author finally reveals the
various truths about him, it is a damn breaking open. He is truly a
multifaceted character and offers great light on man and man’s actions. He is
proof that man can change. Oops! Not Human or man; rather a djinn! (Yes there
are djinns!)
The
entire story is told through multiple viewpoints and the other character
through whose eyes too we see the world, is Alizayd, the younger Qahtani
prince. He is a confident man – confident in his ardent desires to help the
people in his kingdom, a just and kind djinn.
The
element of the fantasy is one on which the story is based and it permeated
through every nook and corner of the incidents. The magical system devised by
the author is captivating – this view into another culture is refreshing and
beautiful. The themes of friendship, love, familial love, betrayal, court
politics (yes!) etc. are some of the other elements we see in this book and
this offers a multifaceted perspective on this novel. The magic system was also
a refreshing change from the usual Western-based ones that are more common in
the market. However, this could have been a bit better explained. I got
confused regarding the magic system quite a few times.
Talking
about the cover, it is absolutely beautiful and I love it. The writing is lucid
and engaging – as if the characters are conversing right in front of you. I
absolutely loved this book and will move on to the sequel soon!
Verdict:
I
completely fell in love with the characters and the plot. And as I look forward
to reading sequel, I rate it a 4/5 stars!
About the author:
S. A. Chakraborty is a speculative fiction
writer from New York City. Her debut, The City of Brass, was the first book in
The Daevabad Trilogy and has been short-listed for the Locus, British Fantasy
and World Fantasy awards. When not buried in books about Mughal miniatures and
Abbasid political intrigue, she enjoys hiking, knitting, and recreating
unnecessarily complicated medieval meals for her family. You can find her
online at www.sachakraborty.comor on Twitter at @SAChakrabooks where she likes to talk about
history, politics, and Islamic art.
About the reviewer:
Nayanika
Saikia, is one of the foremost book reviewers from the North-east and Assam,
and is also an admin for the official India bookstagram page on Instagram. She
publishes her own reviews and recommendations for poetry, fiction, non-fiction
etc. on her bookstagram account @pretty_little_bibliophile which won the
NorthEast Creator Awards 2018, as well as in daily newspapers, online magazines
etc. She can be contacted at nayanikasaikia98@gmail.com
.
The capital has fallen.
The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.
Now the nation’s fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker,
and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.
Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit
to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a
Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and
the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.
Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and
Mal race to find the last of Morozova’s amplifiers. But as she begins to
unravel the Darkling’s secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her
understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is
the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could
cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.
My review:
Considering
the fact that I have been reading this series since the beginning of 2019 (One
book in each month) along with Faguni, this last book in the trilogy was bound
to be a nostalgic and bittersweet read for me. Leigh Bardugo has finally tied
up all the loose ends (most, rather!) and this trilogy has come to a dazzling
close finale. The journey of this buddyreading series has been amazing and I
wholeheartedly thank Faguni for bearing with me! (We have alreays started and
finished with our next buddy read!)
I
found this book very bittersweet. And when I first started reading it, I felt as
if we were moving towards a poignant end and that made me so very hesitant to
read the book, where I was crazy to read it because of Bardugo’s amazing
writing.
The
adventure aspect in this book is one that I absolutely loved. From the
beginning to the end, the travels that this ragtag group of people made,
despite their differences, and infact, with these differnces making them a
strong unit in themselves, is amazing. Also, Nikolai sweeps in again with his
brilliant wit and charm. The entire episode that affects him (I’m so not giving
any spoilers! So please pick up this series!) made my heart so sore and I hope
so much for my baby prince!
Also,
how can I not love the Darkling despite everything? I know I reiterate this
again and again but that is because it is so true – Leigh Bardugo’s talent at
creating these multifaceted real characters is awesome.
Also,
Alina’s character arc is truly notable in this last book. Her development from
the beginning till the end in this one book itself is amazing. We see her grow
into this strong and independent woman, who is not afraid to stand up for her
friends, her people, and ask help when needed.
And
oh I cried! I cried so much. At one point, I just closed the book and cried
solid for a couple minutes straight. But well, I ofcourse went back to reading
it again, once sob-fest was over.
Verdict:
I
absolutely loved this book and I rate 4.5/5 stars to this amazing read.
About the author:
Leigh Bardugo is
a #1 New York Times bestselling author of fantasy novels and the creator of the
Grishaverse. With over two million copies sold, her Grishaverse spans the
Shadow and Bone Trilogy, the Six of Crows Duology, and The Language of
Thorns—with more to come. Her short stories can be found in multiple
anthologies, including The Best of Tor.com and the Best American Science
Fiction & Fantasy. Her other works include Wonder Woman: Warbringer and the
forthcoming Ninth House. Leigh was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Southern
California, graduated from Yale University, and has worked in advertising,
journalism, and even makeup and special effects. These days, she lives and
writes in Los Angeles, where she can occasionally be heard singing with her
band.
About the reviewer:
Nayanika
Saikia, is one of the foremost book reviewers from the North-east and Assam,
and is also an admin for the official India bookstagram page on Instagram. She
publishes her own reviews and recommendations for poetry, fiction, non-fiction
etc. on her bookstagram account @pretty_little_bibliophile which won the
NorthEast Creator Awards 2018, as well as in daily newspapers, online magazines
etc. She can be contacted at nayanikasaikia98@gmail.com
.
The Dark Side Of The Moon is a collection of
short stories that are dark, grim and flirt ambitiously with notions of the
unexplained.
Volume 1 includes three fast paced stories which are bound to keep you hooked
–
THE LAST SKYPE:
What do you do when you are thousands of miles away from the person you
love?
You Skype.
But what if what you see isn’t what it actually is?
IN MY HEAD:
All killers have a motive. People don’t kill out of necessity; people kill
because they want to kill.
Would a mother murdering her own child have a motive too? He has seven days to
find out.
THE RITUAL:
It’s been 33 years. The comet is returning. His god is returning.
The time is right for The Ritual. Will his god come home?
My review:
The
Dark Side of the Moon was a fabulous read. With just the perfect combination of
the macabre and the thriller elements, it was a fast-paced read overall.
In
all the three stories, the author has been able to create a world for the story
and then proceeds to tell his tale in the most deliciously mysterious way as
possible. Like the synopsis claims, the stories all flirt ambitiously with the unexplained.
The atmosphere is dark, as can be expected, and the stories were absolute in
themselves. The beauty lies in the fact that the author is able to wrap up an
entire story in just a few words – kudos to his writing – and yet leave so many
unanswered questions in the readers’ minds.
The
themes, although horror permeated through every story, were that of normal
everyday emotions and perhaps that is why the author has been able to so
easily, capture the readers’ minds; familial love, romantic love, human hopes
and aspirations, human’s thirst for knowledge, technology etc., abound this
collection. The writing style is simple yet engaging and makes you wonder – is it
possible? Can this really happen? And what if it does?
These
questions flitted about in my mind as I read one story and then moved on to the
next. What they did is really made me question a lot of things we as humans
have already come to accept and believe. Are these paranormal phenomena even
true? And maybe, somewhere around us, they are happening?
My
favourite was The Last Skype and its ending left me so very shocked and yet thirsty
for more of this author’s work. Considering that this collection is the Volume
1, we can no doubt expect a Volume 2 perhaps to come out soon, and I wait
eagerly for that. This was one book that was very interesting and I hope to read
more of this author’s works.
Verdict:
I
really enjoyed this collection and rate it a 4/5 stars.
About the reviewer:
Nayanika
Saikia, is one of the foremost book reviewers from the North-east and Assam, and
is also an admin for the official India bookstagram page on Instagram. She
publishes her own reviews and recommendations for poetry, fiction, non-fiction
etc. on her bookstagram account @pretty_little_bibliophile which won the
NorthEast Creator Awards 2018, as well as in daily newspapers, online magazines
etc. She can be contacted at nayanikasaikia98@gmail.com
.
Publisher: Amazon through Kindle Direct Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Women’s Literature
Format: Ebook
Language: Language
No. of pages: 166
Publication Date: August 4, 2017
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
ASIN: B074L8W7XS
Synopsis:
PAL is
a fast-paced yet poignant character-driven novel, written in a witty and
bittersweet romantic key reminiscent in parts of David Nicholls’s books (One
Day), and set in the exciting world of several vibrant Romanian artists and
musicians.
Henriette, an accomplished sculptor, seems to find more joy in her
feminist-inspired work and her piano playing than in the people who care about
her. Ela, a piano teacher turned book reviewer, hopes to discover the key to
happiness and a more meaningful life through studying the workings of the mind
and crafting poems about emotions she trusts will lead her to a better place.
Joining them in beauty and blindness is Pamfil, a violinist who dabbles as a
singer and lives mostly for the moment and his monthly parties. As they follow
their passions, they find themselves on treacherous journeys to love and
happiness, and are slow to figure out how to best tackle their predicaments.
Fortunately, their lovers and friends are there to help . . . but then a
newcomer complicates things.
My review:
Poets, Artists,
Lovers is a great book – it is deep and sentimental, funny at times, but engrossing
and makes you sink dee into thought yourself. I tried to write a short review
but I guess I have too many notes made from when I read it – such was its power
over me.
The intertextual
references are a nice inclusion and brings in many themes from different times
and different minds to the instances in the novel. Moreover, the extensive
talks on the works of various musical artists, sculptors like Rodin etc. in
relation to life itself gave another layer to this story. Throughout the novel,
music is also a key binding element. There is also a lot of philosophy in the
book, and being a student of English literature, I quite enjoyed them as well.
The author’s own proficiency in these fields can be seen through her
characters.
There is a
cinematographic aspect to the novel, maybe because of the gradual changes in
the background that are not brought to the forefront – it is very much a
character driven novel, after all – but also due to the whimsical quality that
permeates throughout. Moreover, the inclusion of the visual arts, and also pop
culture, make it an intriguing read.
This is truly an art book – much like the art movies that wonder us so. Maybe I am a melancholic reader myself but wouldn’t you agree that so much of the melancholy in the book is beautiful –
“Yes. It actually talks of something that makes me think of solitude that grows and grows and is ever harder to take apart. Solitude that threatens to displace everything in its path.”
I found this part completely nostalgic and yet the delivery of the lines is so beautiful. The same can be said of the entire book. I now long for a hardcopy I can keep on my bedside table to read every now and then –
“I also rediscovered emails I saved,” Alice went on. “Reviewing some of them the other day felt like reading about a different person. If I had not recognized some terms of endearment, I would have thought someone else had written them. I was full of enthusiasm, all exclamation points and smiles. I didn’t recognize myself. I realized I had forgotten so much of myself, of my former self,” Alice added pensively.
Special mention for this poem that Ela wrote – it was so very beautiful, I think I may work my calligraphy magic on it and then frame it up-
She then got up and retrieved from her purse her most recent poem, which she had finished and printed out just before she left home that day. It was titled “After So Many Years,” and it went, when I cry, you cry inside me harder, when I stake out my spot in the wilderness I find you there, winding me, in the darkness, in the light, shaking my bed sheets, so I can’t sleep, or love another; I wonder who’s by your side now, in the darkness, in the light, if you’re crying, or if you’re lonely and silent, walking into the wilderness from an empty table and a floor littered with a handful of breadcrumbs you leave in your path for love to eventually find you and feed you, after all these years.
Sometimes the novel
also felt like reading absurdist literature because sometimes the characters
talk about such normal pointless things that it sort of seems absurd when seen
in context of life in the book throughout. Of course, this is a very personal
point of view. But this also brings in the debate over existentialism and the
essence of being.
Themes
The part where Alice and Anca are discussing about Henriette’s latest sculpture of pairs of breasts at different consecutive age decade, is one I found very bittersweet. How true it is that we are so much fixated on youth – we are so vain – I for one, despair that I am 20 now, when the heroines in all the fantasy books I love are not yet 20 and have still accomplished and gone through so much.
“The point being that in this youth-fixated Western world we don’t realize how invisible the human body becomes after a certain age. When I first saw two naked seventy-five-year-olds making love in a movie, and enjoying their bodies together at the edge of the sea, I was shocked. And I had seen Alice Neel’s paintings and other images like that.”
Other body image issues also crop in, and Ela says –
“My mother says that young healthy women with strong willpower should make sure they’re slim, or else they send the message that they don’t have enough willpower, or that they’re not healthy.”
It leads to mental health issues as well. Ela and her mental health issues; depression is truly an ugly viper-
“If only that pain and sinking feeling would disappear at all. It may take a while, though. It still takes me hours some mornings to get rid of them. I’m glad I have the books and my poems to give me a feeling of purpose strong enough to beat the ache out of my system. Or maybe it’s the concentration that does it. I’ve been able to concentrate better lately.”
Sibling tension is also portrayed well in this book.
Alice looked at her sister in silence, taking the latter’s acrimony in stride. “Sorry, Henriette, that I’m not more talented,” she spoke after a few beats. Her calm was that of someone who has felt and said that many times.
The utter clogging at my throat was real when I read these lines. To be second-best and that to against a sibling is truly a hard thing and for one to be so used to it to be able to simply admit it, is heart wrenching. Since I am currently taking a short story paper in university, I came across this story by Alice Walker, Everyday Use, where the younger daughter Maggie says – “She can have them, Mama”, she said, like somebody used to never winning anything, or having anything reserved for her.The despondency and the dejection that comes from reading these lines from two different texts is a bittersweet experience.
In chapter 10, when Alice and Anca are talking, and Alice points out that since Anca has so many problems with her boyfriend, Marcel, she could just leave him. But Anca says no –
“Because it could turn out to be for good,” Anca said. “And I’ve invested too much in this relationship.” “Really?” Alice said, in mock surprise. “That’s your argument?” “I love him,” Anca said powerfully. “Not for what he is now, but for what he was and what I think he can be again. He’s not being himself these days. He’s either trying too hard or sabotaging any chance at happiness.”
This really made me think about our relationships – how sometimes, we try to settle down despite that prick in our minds, and because we are used to used and now comfortable. We would rather live with that ache on our sides forever, than to move and settle somewhere new.
The use of the stream of consciousness method is also clear. For instance, in the paragraph in chapter 8, as Ela keeps on speaking –
“Yes, at first I thought that was it, but in reality I was in shock,” Ela said, taking a gulp from her mug. “He turned my whole world upside down, and I was asking myself all these questions: what it means to live life with a passion, or with love, or with a mixture of the two, what it means to feel both passion and love for the same person, what it means to love someone and life and God, what kind of passion and love you need for that …” She picked up another brownie and bit into it. “These brownies are really different from how I usually make them. They’re very good, aren’t they? And the recipe was very similar to mine. Same ingredients, just different quantities.” She drank some more of her tea. “I don’t think he was in love with Ettie,” she said, her gaze meeting Alice’s.
There are significant other instances too- Marcel’s mother says a very important thing to Maria, friend of Anca –
“We’re complex creatures, Maria. Don’t let anyone tell you that there’s only one thing in this world for you. Be creative with your life. Learn many skills. Don’t ever get complacent or lazy. You never know what life may throw at you, and you have to be prepared. We don’t live under communism anymore. You have to be ready to change paths if one vocation doesn’t pan out. Or a certain job. Don’t wait too long, either. Life is so very short.”
The book also
portrays the utter complexities of human emotions and human relationships, with
so many shadows harrowing them. For instance, TheThinker and the Lover movie that Ela, Henriette and
Pamfil saw and the resultant discussion that they had was very enlightening in
itself. And then later, the sudden competitiveness that comes up between
Henriette and Ela is noticeable.
Other important
motifs I saw throughout-out were – the non-linearity of time in the story as
the author tells it (which is also so reflective of the non-linearity in one’s
own life today), how one event can trigger another – for instance in Ela’s
case, seeing Pamfil and Henriette together, leading to her leaving her job and
becoming a book reviewer, or even the case of completely disregarding our
sadness and overworking out body, as we try to replace the emotional or mental
ache with the physical pain.
The
author has brought in various modern instances – psychological, for instance,
the things we do to alleviate anxiety, like online chatting, the need for real
communication and the fact that what we get in lieu of that is an utter
travesty, compartmentalization in regards to men and women, as explained by Pamfil,
which I agree mostly with.
Characters
At some points, I felt sad for Pamfil – to live such a hollow life – maybe he never felt it and it is only I the reader who thinks as such.
“I think he’d never learned to love,” Ela said. “Love with a passion and tenderly and on a higher level. Just like me. I mean I hadn’t either. I only began to love this way after I methim.Only after he shook my whole way of looking at things.” “That doesn’t make much sense, his teaching you a kind of love he hasn’t grasped himself,” Alice said.
But then again, in chapter 14, when Marie asks him what his favourite pleasure was, Pamfil had replied as follows. And I think that, really explains him and those few words are enough to tell us everything about him- why he does what he does and so on.
“The pleasure of being young,” Pamfil said, stretching his arms over the table for her hands.
The post-transformation Ela, if you could prefer to call that phase her transformatory years, is one I really liked. Her ideas for a book are also so magically spoken that I was enraptured.
“It starts with wandering around like Alice—not you,” she said with a smile as she read from a paper with put-on panache, “living a life of superimposed uncertainties—you know, uncertain about my purposes in life but no underlying tectonic plate motion to make me really seek a higher love—until they’re suddenly flung out… finding myself chained to barren solitude, and then slowly taking revolving steps to grind away my memories, feeling my way around them devoid of meaning, bereft of a soul, till, slowly, a zephyr drifts in, and I hear its call to make it beautiful, to make emptiness sing as I push it out, to wind through words as if it matters.” She took a deep breath. “And then I start the story. That was just the prologue.”
We find her this new person who is slowly learning herself and as she says, also learning to love George again. The character arc of Ela is really interesting. Although we do not see her much towards the beginning, after her transformation, this new Ela is at least superficially sure of what she feels and thinks. Her discussions with Henriette regarding happiness and health etc., although may not seem very significant, but the manner of her speaking is to be noted.
Henriette nodded, even though she had never been a big fan of his poetry, and accepted the printout, thinking how funny it was that he had just mentioned women trying to change him. Then her mood grew somber. Haralambie’s verse was now darker in his pronouncements. His poem, loosely inspired by Miguel Hernández’s “Después del amor” (“After the Love”), talked of solitudes so hard they were impossible to crush, firm obstacles in the path of happiness, boulders that not even time could erode much in the course of a lifetime.
– This of course made me check out the poem and I as was expected fell in love with it. I think that even though Haralambie or Har, might not show it overtly, the breakup with Henriette really affected him. His innate habits are so very different by the end of the novel. For instance, Henriette notices that unlike before, he smirks a lot now. And his entire demeanor is that of a very much cynical or disillusioned man. Moreover, he reminisces unconsciously again when they meet in chapter 15 –
“I don’t think you did, because some people—and you are one of them—are not capable of wasting time. It’s part of what I liked so much about you,” he said.
As for George I
found him a very sweet man, always being there for Ela despite the three years
of chaos that was wrought upon their relationship.
But does Marcel
really understand Anca? Years ago, at his 17th birthday party, when
the utter chaos of the party had overwhelmed her, he did not even understand
her feelings from her expression. So is his love, love, if he cannot truly
understand her?
I found the ending a
bit ambiguous. What did that enigmatic smile that Henriette let escape her lips
mean?
There are also a few
literary masterpieces of quotes that I took from the book:
“she felt life rippling softly through her body, slowing and quieting the rattle of her thoughts, her high hobbyhorses—being clever, being cultured, being creative—were swept by the immense relief and joy of riding, light and supple, the surf of the present, her mind, body, and soul in harmony.”
“There is no routine with a loved one. Lovers are supposed to change each other all the time” – Pamfil says.
“You know what I think? Some of us love some people once, and then we love them forever.” – Alice says to Anca.
And
“Later that week Anca sent a number of poems to the magazine Literary Romania. “Tell Me” was among them. It talked of roasted potatoes and onions, rooibos tea with honey, and perky sad music on the CD player. It considered whether life is ever more than swapping stories in a kitchen over a poor man’s meal shared threeways, each bite charmed with sunlight and music. It described an intoxicating scene with a long-haired woman in a vaporous dress, pirouetting on the kitchen table to humor her boyfriend, who then grabbed her by the thighs and hips and put her down in front of the piano, where she played God knows what, for she used no sheets, and she and her man were the only musicians in the room. Finally, it mentioned her bare foot pushing the brass pedal with conviction, her launching into Chopin’s Revolutionary Etude, whirling its listeners like a tornado, and her cutting loose as more water for tea boiled on the stove, and the guests were invited to crack walnut shells for a makeshift dessert.”
Verdict:
I was exultant in
blissful calm and contentment when I finished the book. Let me explain
myself… You know how there are some books that give you a sense of peace after
you finish reading them? It’s like you enjoy reading the book – annotate and
underline a ton of lines and reread some parts again and again; and after
finishing the book, you just hug it close to your heart because after this book
– this experience, rather – you feel that you have changed? This is what I felt
for this book. I do not know why. Maybe it is because it touched upon so many
issues that we all relate to despite age/geographical differences, or because
of the pure art that it is, or maybe even because as a literature student
I was mesmerized by it… But nonetheless, I am sure that I shall surely be
picking up this book soon. It has been one of the best books I have ever read!
About the
reviewer:
Nayanika
Saikia, is one of the foremost book reviewers from the North-east and Assam,
and is also an admin for the official India bookstagram page on Instagram. She
publishes her own reviews and recommendations for poetry, fiction, non-fiction
etc. on her bookstagram account @pretty_little_bibliophile which won the
NorthEast Creator Awards 2018, as well as in daily newspapers, online magazines
etc. She can be contacted at nayanikasaikia98@gmail.com
.
Recommended
for: Lovers
of fantasy – especially if you want to start with adult fantasy.
Synopsis:
A world divided.
A queendom without an heir.
An ancient enemy awakens.
The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen
Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from
destruction—but assassins are getting closer to her door.
Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of
lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a
watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic.
Across the dark sea, Tané has trained all her life to be a dragonrider, but is
forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel.
Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are
rising from their sleep.
My review:
I got an ARC of the book from the publishers in
exchange for an honest review.
The
Priory of the Orange Tree is a massive book – with more than 800 pages, at
first glance it tends to intimidate the reader, but once one starts reading it,
there is nothing that can hold him back from flipping the pages.
The
world created by Shannon in this high-fantasy novel is as vast and powerful as
that of any other ones every created. The author has painted a world with her
own magical pen, and rendered the reader speechless. In this divided world,
there are various people – those of the West hate all wyrms, not distinguishing
the good ones from the bad ones, while the people in the East, worship them. it
is from these two opposing sides that we see the protagonists – Tane is from
the East, an aspiring dragon-rider, and Ead Duryan is from the West, tasked
with protecting the Inysh Queen, Sabran, who is the last in her line. What makes
the world so rich is the effort the author has put in, and given such depth –
there are so many myths and legends among these people, that it is as if you as
the reader are living it, and learning about their rules and customs.
The
author has portrayed the female inter-relationships beautifully. It is nice to
see these women, strong in their own rights, support and help each other. Everyone
has a demon and everyone suffers alone, but again, each of them are string
women who do not give up – they are selfless, young but idealistic. They make mistakes,
but are not afraid to accept them and learn from them. Seeing as how fantasy is
in such demand right now, I see this as something really powerful for the
author to have done – women empowerment starts from among the women themselves.
Another
amazing representation is the lesbian relationship which I perceived as the
major romantic relationship among the various others. This representation is impressive – from not
knowing of one’s sexual orientation to realizing it and accepting it fully
despite what society thinks, to being confused to following rules set by
society, the novels covers a myriad of aspects.
Speaking
of characters, I have to admit that I also share Gayatri’s feelings regarding
Sabran – at first I was just as different towards her, for she seemed like any
other pampered royal, unknowing of the harsh reality of the world. But her
character arc, as the novel goes on, is definitely very noticeable and all of
this makes her human and thus, very much relatable to the reader. She suffers,
both due to internal and external reasons, but it is all overshadowed by her truest
desire to help her people and be a good queen to them.
Eadaz
du Zala Uq Nara, or Ead Duryan as she is rather known, is a member of the
Priory of the Orange Tree, assigned to protect the Berethnet queen, Sabran IX. Her
relationship with the queen is dynamic and changes as the story progresses.
Tane
is also another woman who grows throughout. A Seiikinese from the East, her greatest
desire is to be a dragon rider. It is also through her dragon Nayimathun, that
we get the closest glimpse to these magical and awe-inspiringly majestic
creatures.
Apart
from these three women, Margaret Beck, sister to Arteloth Beck (who is friend
to both Ead and Sabran), is a wonderful woman. Always supportive of her
friends, she is not afraid to go into the midst of war to do her share in
helping the wounded and also, for the betterment of the future of course. The male
leads are also very modern – they are spportive and can accept these bold women
as their equals without being intimidated. They also made me admire them. Loth
and Kit were two amazing men. I will miss what Kate and Kit might have been. The
author has truly done an amazing job with the characters and made the entire
read an utter delight.
The
fantasy element – with the Eastern dragons, the wyrms, Fyredel and his siblings
and of course The Nameless one, the story reads like magic too. The issue of
immortality, the three trees, and the unsettling yet amazing family histories
are all crazy and yet make up the backbone of the story. The other theme of
politics is also intriguing and absolutely captures the reader’s attention.
The
altering narratives were not at all abrupt – the writing is done with fluidic
grace and one just glides through. However, I felt that the end was rushed
through – that the denouement was reached without much struggle.
Verdict:
It
was an amazing book. I took exactly 5 days to complete it. With its beautiful
and page-turning churn of action, high fantasy, romance, and politics, I rate
this book a 4.5/5 stars!
About the
reviewer:
Nayanika
Saikia, is one of the foremost book reviewers from the North-east and Assam, and
is also an admin for the official India bookstagram page on Instagram. She
publishes her own reviews and recommendations for poetry, fiction, non-fiction
etc. on her bookstagram account @pretty_little_bibliophile which won the
NorthEast Creator Awards 2018, as well as in daily newspapers, online magazines
etc. She can be contacted at nayanikasaikia98@gmail.com
.
In September 1857, the Indian way of life
changed for ever, after the overnight downfall of the Mughal Dynasty, with the
capture and exile of Bahadur Shah Zafar. This book, translated by Safvi,
presents translations of four texts that talk about Dilli (today, Delhi) on the
eve of the downfall and the fate of royalty following the uprising of 1857.
Invoking nostalgia, chronicling both beauty and hardships, it is a gemstone to
understand exactly how the royal household functioned and how it ceased to
be.
My review:
City
of my Heart is a chronicle, a romance, and history all mixed in one. It is a
scenery of a time rich in cultural and intellectual activity in Dilli as it was
then known, the multifaceted aspects of the Mughals and their reign that made
it a paradigm, and it is a nostalgic read- almost as if one’s relatives had
lived and loved in those times, as if this illusion is just within one’s grasp
in a few years in the past and not in the actual centuries that separate them
and us.
City
of my Heart has a beautiful cover, and it catches the reader’s eye at the very
instance they fall on it. Had I not been given a review copy, I am sure that I
would have picked up the book just for the sake of the cover, without having
even read the synopsis. But this book is one of those rare ones, for which the
covers and the content go hand in hand.
While
the stories are wonderful, as a non-Urdu learner I cannot possibly waive aside
the diligent work of the translator, without the presence of whom I would have
still been believing Dilli of that time to be a mere decadent one.
As
I so vividly found out, the first half of the nineteenth century has been very
much misunderstood, and this book truly sets that to right. No words I utter
today can possibly pierce the pregnant thoughts I harbor for it – full of calm
yet sorrow, awe and some strange, perhaps misplaced (or not), sense of
nostalgia. It is a masterpiece, and apart from the actual academic importance
it has got, this is a must read for those wishing to know more about our country’s
past, from the works of actual people of those times, and translated by a
master storyteller into a language that is easy to understand, and a portrayal
of a world just as easy to slip into.
Verdict:
I
quite enjoyed this book and I rate it a 4/5 stars.
About the
reviewer
Nayanika
Saikia, is one of the foremost book reviewers from the North-east and Assam,
and is also an admin for the official India bookstagram page on Instagram. She
publishes her own reviews and recommendations for poetry, fiction, non-fiction
etc. on her bookstagram account @pretty_little_bibliophile which won the
NorthEast Creator Awards 2018, as well as in daily newspapers, online magazines
etc. She can be contacted at nayanikasaikia98@gmail.com
.
Title: First Came Forever (The Angelheart Saga I) Author: Annie Woods Publisher: Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie Publishers Format: Paperback Language: English Pages: 322 Synopsis:
First love. A promise of forever. A lie that changes everything.
Backpacking with her high school friends, Erica Lindell’s life takes a thrilling new turn. Meeting the fascinating Sasha Ailes, she can’t help but fall completely and irrevocably in love with him. When he feels the same way about her, Erica finds herself drawn into a fairytale love story that will set her life on a new direction. But Sasha has kept his true identity a secret. Finding out who he really is, Erica must overcome the betrayal and make the hardest choice of her life. Can she give up her own dreams to live in his world, or leave and lose him forever?
First Came Forever is an enchanting, heart-wrenching story about finding true love and the devastating consequences it can lead to. What price is too high to pay, even for love? My review:
Before I begin the actual review, let me state how much time it took me to literally finish reading the book – a day! And no, not even 24 hours; not even half of that. It took me around 4 hours! Once I started with it, I could not ear to keep it down!
First Came Forever was a hauntingly beautiful contemporary story – and that is not a word I generally use for contemporary novels. It has the perfect amount of seasonings of drama, romance, high school romance, and comes with the best imaginable Prince a girl could ever wish for.
One must assume that for a reader to not be able to put down a book, the beginning must be great! And it is. The early chapters are a treat for those who love to travel – it certainly was for me. The writing is so visual – the imagery vivid and so real. Our protagonists are also two very mature persons and I really like that. Especially considering the female protagonist Erica, she is not the damsel-in-distress; completely the opposite in fact. Their relationship is also basically a trope of the older guy-younger girl that I really love.
The family dynamics as well as the friendships are well explored here- the author has brought in a lot of variety. the relationships were also well explored – here again, the fact that the author has made it as realistic as possible without being cheesy and common, is what tends to grip the readers’ minds undoubtedly. Long distance relations, the problems that come with it, the good and the bad times, and the fact that it is not always a walk in the park is well portrayed.
Despite the fact that most of the story takes place in the high-school setting, the author has been successfully able to keep it realistic but also positive. Of course there is the obnoxious head cheerleader, along with the jocks. But they are not all shown as such. We see Tyler with his inner conflicted and vulnerable self, Miriam with her instability, the twins with their adorable-ness, as well as Danny, Ricky, Jordan with their complicated selves- the masks people wear as opposed to the actual selves that they hide… This book is a contemporary treat.
The character development was on point as you may have already learnt by now, reading the review. The plot was also well paced and interesting enough to make me finish this humongous book in literally one sitting. The writing style along with the world building blew my mind away. I definitely will be picking this up for a reread. Verdict:
I quite enjoyed this book and it was not even a minute before I immediately picked up the sequel after finishing it. I rate this a 4.5/5 stars.
Synopsis:
Erica Lindell would give anything to turn back time. To get a second chance to make the right decisions. To undo the devastating mistake that ruined everything.
Left heartbroken after the loss of the love of her life, Sasha aka Prince Alexandre, Erica has to find a way to pick up the pieces of her shattered heart and live with the consequences of her actions. But finding the strength to go on with her life is not all she has to contend with. Soon, Erica finds herself in the midst of the evil feuding behind the attack on Sasha and she has to fight to protect herself and all that is near and dear to her.
Amongst all of the confusion, pain and hurt, Tyler proposes a solution that may solve all of her problems. But will Erica go through with Tyler’s crazy scheme?
The much-anticipated second book of the Angelheart Saga Trilogy is another enchanting, heart-wrenching story about the mistakes made in the name of love, full of drama, passion and surprising twists. My review:
In Forever Disguised, the sequel to First Came Forever, we see Erica coping with her loss mostly. It is again, a roller-coaster ride and the pace doesn’t wane – the author has been excellent in preventing that.
I finished reading First Came Forever in literally 6 hours, I think – just a day, and I took two days for the sequel. If I didn’t have a test, I’d have probably finished it in a day as well. This is a wonderful series. So far only these two books have been out and I have no doubt that the third will be out soon; or at least I hope it’s soon. I’m going crazy with the wait. This series has everything – there is romance, friendships, family, and the effects of differentiating views and fights among friends, family, lovers and so on.
The love, the hate, the drama, the revenge, the fairy-tale was on point. What really makes the reader stick to these books is I think how realistic and thus relatable the author has made the story. It is as if one is seeing the events take place in front of her! The themes really grab on to the characters, and their actions, and through their actions and reactions, the reader as well.
The pace of the story was well-timed. The structure, the narrative style was also balanced and could keep the reader laugh, cry and smile at appropriate times (and howl with sorrow as well!) The character development is amazingly apt and again, well-paced. Nothing is rushed, and we see the characters evolve at a natural pace. The plot development again was really well done too.
Finding grammatical or even punctuation errors is often enough to put off the reader, and I am glad I never came across any. The editors have done a good job with it.
I wished to know what happened at the end and yet I wished for the story to never end – such is the power of this author. And now that I’m done with both, I can only cross my fingers and hope that the third will be released soon! Verdict:
I really really enjoyed this book and can now only fangirl over it as I desperately wait for the next in the series to come out soon! I rate this a 4.5/5 stars.
It is not enough to be busy… the question is: what are we busy about?
-Henry David Thoreau
Just like every other person, we too get a mere 24 hours a day. How is it then that some people can cover so much work and some just about get up from their bed and have some food? The answer lies in time management.
Being able to manage one’s time is, I think, one of the greatest abilities that a person can possibly cultivate. Time is of the essence, after all. Time is knowledge; knowledge is power. As such, being able to control oneself so as to make the greatest difference possible each day, is truly a wondrous thing. So let me tell you what my take on time management is.
As a student at The Assam Royal Global University, you could say that I already have a really hectic life. Throughout the week – Mondays to Fridays – I get up at 7 and get ready and get on the bus at 8 in the morning. I study and work as much as I can – cover as many things I need to do on the day – and then in the evening, I get off the bus at 6.45 pm and immediately head off to the gym. After an hour’s workout put into my daily schedule, I reach home at around 8.15 pm. This is followed by a bath, dinner and an episode of whatever Netflix show I am currently watching. At 9, I am promptly at my work table where I then start with my studying and assignments and so on. I always believe in doing things on the very day they are allotted and not procrastinating, and perhaps that is why I can currently juggle my academic work as well as my non-academic work. Apart from actually being a full-time university student, I also work in an NGO as a content creator, I have my own reviewing work for my award-winning bookstagram account (@pretty_little_bibliophile), and I also am an admin for the official India Bookstagram page on Instagram and I need to create regular content. So you can imagine how hectic it gets.
As such, I honestly really forget a lot of things, and that is why I maintain my bullet journal. It is the one thing that truly keeps me on track and reminds me of the things I need to do every day. It really helps me plan my days and the best thing is that it is customizable. There is no one way to do it because the aim of maintaining this sort of a journal is to simply make life easier. As such, I really am very dependent on my bullet journal and cannot imagine a life without it.
Lots of love,
Nika!
Please do like and comment and share your views. Also, if you want an in-depth how-to for Bullet journalling, you can check out my latest post by clicking on this link: How To: A Bullet Journalling Guide
Title: Blooming in the Snow Author: Sajid Iqbal Publisher: Evincepub Publishing Format: Paperback Language: English Pages: 193 About the poet:
Sajid Iqbal is a 24-year-old poet and author from Guwahati, India. He writes about love, loss, healing and self-love. He shares his raw emotions and experiences through poetry. Blooming in the Snow is his first published book. Sajid is studying Bachelors in Arts and Law. He has been writing since the age of fourteen, and he hasn’t stopped ever since. When he isn’t writing, he loves to travel and try out new food. Synopsis:
Blooming in the snow is a collection of poetry and prose by Sajid Iqbal, that inspires us to fall in love, regardless of whatever the situation may be. The three chapters viz. the first snow, the avalanche, and blooming in the snow, will take you on a journey of love, heartache, healing, self-love and growing up. It will also help you blossom even in the harshest season of life. My review:
And when you wake up From self-doubt Put on some attitude, Wear that smile And conquer Fearlessly.
Another one of contemporary poetry collections that have recently swarmed the market, looming with the Snow came as a pleasant surprise. I didn’t expect much, going in; I rarely do, when it comes to contemporary modern poetry, but I was pleasantly shocked and happily surprised. I have to mention here that this is a collection of contemporary modern poetry, very much in the lines of Rupi Kaur. As such, do keep in mind that such contemporary poetry reads are not for everyone.
The best healing is forgiveness. Sometimes by someone And often by yourself.
With a very beautiful tone of voice, the poet has brought in various themes and elements in this collection. As you can already see in the picture, I have bookmarked a multitude of various poems because they were wonderful and could really invoke deep emotions in the reader. Here is one such poem I loved-
Your wounds will heal Once you will Feed it with Acceptance.
In today’s highly competitive world it is so easy to lose track of one’s health- mental and physical, as well as in the pursuit of success, it is so common to damage your relationships with others. The poet has divided this collection into three – the first snow, the avalanche and blooming in the snow, under which there is are multiple poetry and prose pieces in each. What I loved about this collection is that so many of these are based on self-love which is again which I really promote in today’s world. Self-growth is such an important thing and we fail to acknowledge that in the wild and mindless pursuit of success.
The poems are written in blank verse, as is the tradition of contemporary modern poetry and the author has done a good job with it. The ones of love, unrequited mostly are beautiful and poignant. The ending shot that the poet delivers is one that stays with the reader though for a long time to come-
I wonder if you Remember me, And write like I do. Probably you won’t. You told me once, You are more of a reader. So, this was for you.
Verdict:
I truly enjoyed reading this collection of poetry and I rate it a 4.5/5 stars.
