Book Review: Neil Must Die

I wonder how the author managed to make everything in this book stand unique among other group of books. Say, the title, which seems to confess something about the protagonist, the texture of the book which itself makes a lot of difference and of course the climax of the story, which is left to the reader’s choice. Reading the blurb, I was sure that the book is going to be an intriguing read.

Blurb:

Neil falls in love with his newly-wedded sister-in-law, Tuli, forcing seeds of suspicion and spilling blasphemy into the conservative Bengali family.

He runs away from the chaos, drowning himself in lies and false assurances, only to discover that Tuli is pregnant with his child-and all becomes clear.

His fears and doubts evaporate, and he sets out to make life wonderful for Tuli and their child, completely unaware that, even with the impending battle he has to fight, it is written in stone that he must die.

A story of silent rebellion, desperate escapism, self-destruction and thunderous passion.

Book: Neil must die

Author: Kaberi Chatterjee

ISBN: 978-162840070-0

Publisher: Blackbuck Publication

No. of pages: 264

Review:

The story starts with Neil’s trip to the Himalayas where he meets Cathy and open up his heart to her. The flashback is based on Calcutta and the description of the place makes easy for the readers to visualize it. True color of the city and the culture it follows gives a clear picture about the people of Calcutta. Tuli’s history of birth and her fate written makes a different introduction. Tuli is married to Neil’s brother Soumen who only dream of her in bed. Tuli shows no interest for him and disappoints him on the first day of their marriage. Tuli finds Neil to be so real and soon becomes close to him. Though Neil worries about her interest on him on the first place, he falls for her later. Their affair remains secret within Neil’s room where they have sex. Tuli pretends to be happy with Soumen but longs to live the rest of the life with Neil. Though Neil tries to move away from her, he finds him only much closer to her. Their hopeless affair comes to light when Soumen sees them together in Neil’s room. Neil then tries to explain their love but Soumen takes the matter to their mother who warns Neil for his behavior. Thus Neil and Tuli find no way to talk with other. Tuli, after knowing that she is pregnant with Neil’s baby, asks him to search for a career in Mumbai without letting him know about his baby. In Mumbai, he stays with Remo, his friend, who works for a Mafia. Juhi, a call girl helps Neil to get a job. Upon knowing that Tuli is pregnant with his baby, he leaves to Calcutta to see her only to find her dead. The shock becomes too much to bear and he leaves to Mumbai. He then works for Hussain, the Mafia and gets into a trouble. What trouble did he land up in? Does Cathy help him to recover from his past? Having no future, should Neil die?

To learn more about the story, walk up to the nearby bookshop and get your copy soon.

The author has brought all the emotions into the story which makes the reader feel the characters so alive. The narration of the story is clear and the glossary of terms helps for an easy read. The addressing of Calcutta and its culture surely makes the readers learn about the city. Tuli’s character was so interesting which I liked the most. And reading the conclusion part, I prefer Neil to live with a fresh start. I find no mistake on him to make him die. 


The credit for the uniqueness of the looks that the book carries goes to the publications. This is the first book of the Blackbuck publication and I am more than satisfied with its quality. Waiting for the new books soon from BlackBuck.

I congratulate Mrs. Kaberi Chatterjee for such a strong plot and for rendering the story in a neat way. I would rate a flat 3.5/5 for this book and would recommend for all.

About the Author:

Kaberi Chatterjee is a journalist-turned-author-turned teacher, born in India and grew up in a stately house under a conservative joint family system. She spent most of her childhood lost in her mysterious, huge house. Her imagination was fueled from here and she began writing poems and stories from the age of six. Born a Hindu and a Bengali, Kaberi attended an English medium Christian school where she grew up in learning about Christianity, singing hymns and carols. Kaberi grew up becoming a humanitarian by religion and spiritual by belief. 

Kaberi loves traveling and adventure sports. She has traversed the Himalayas and participated in white-water rafting. 

Kaberi is also a qualified classical Kathak dancer, which is her hobby. She loves animals and nature. This is her second book.

You can buy the book from Flipkart, Infibeam or Homeshop18.

Happy Reading :-)

Book Review: Tall Man Small Shadow

When every debut novel in Indian industry has this word “love” somewhere in it, here is this book, with a very different title. The first thing which amused me is the title and makes every reader to have a look at the book. I was wondering what the story will be when the title said “Tall Man Small Shadow.” I then went on to read its blurb and it said

It is my debut English novel based on existentialism. Salil loves a shadow which transforms into many characters to reveal the secrets of life. Aalya, his neighbor, is doing research in English literature. Her guide Seema is a childless lesbian. Paul, husband of Seema, is a drama director. I am the protagonist, who coins philosophies for day to day events and my wife Sulekha is the second protagonist who makes coincidences happen with her artful manipulations. Read on to learn what happens when....

The word existentialism is something new to me. I have never heard about it before but through the cover page I could relate it is something dealing with the shadow. That made me curious to start with this book. The cover design is good and goes along with the title.

Coming to the review, the story starts with an old man (whose name is not revealed at the beginning) delivering a courier to his neighbour, Salil. Salil is working with a firm nearby and exhibits a strange behaviour to others. The old man lives with his wife Sulekha and only daughter Aalya opposite to Salil’s house. Aalya a beautiful and intelligent girl wants to excel in her studies and gets attracted by her neighbour Salil. The first meet of Aalya and Salil did not last even for two minutes. Then one day something wanted Salil to speak to her and they meet in a tea shop nearby. Salil notices that both of their shadows kiss each other when they are sitting separated in different benches and he likes her shadow. Aalya is curious to know why Salil behaves like this and hears about his past life. Even after hearing his breakup her love towards Salil did not decrease. Aalya in her post graduate studies wants to prepare a thesis and takes Seema as her guide. Seema is talented, childless and family friend of Aalya. Seema is married to Paul who is a drama director. When Aalya discuss about the thesis, Seema asks her to come over to her house for detailed discussion. In few days they turn to be lesbians and are happy with it. In mean time, Aalya falls for Salil and Salil gets close with Aalya’s family due to few incidents. When Paul is on a tour to Europe with a drama team, Seema finds herself being pregnant whose biological parents are Salil and Aalya. How did Seema carry twins of Salil and Aalya? What happened between Salil and Aalya? Did Seema and Aalya’s relationship continue after it? What is the role of Sulekha in this story?

To know more read the full story.

The author has kept the book more decent rather than explaining the sex sense elaborately and has kept everything precise. On the language front it is captivating and the choice of words shows the author’s brilliance. The book had few mistakes and it can be rectified by doing a little rework. The positive aspect of the story is its narration. It is narrated through different perspective and explains different dimensions of the same situation but the same turns to be the negative as sometime the reader is confused on who’s perspective he is reading from. The highlight of the story is when Sulekha takes her turn to narration and makes the reader clear that “nothing is coincidence”. She is the one who says her husband’s name as Anupam. Sulekha’s narration adds spice to the story and on the whole it is an intriguing read.

“Tall Man Small Showdow” is well written with a strong characterisation on different dimensioned peoples, explains about the existentialism equipped with many philosophies turns out to be a wonderful read.

I congratulate Mr. Vipin Behari Goyal for penning down such a good story and delivering about the existentialism. I would rate a flat 4/5 for this book and would recommend for all. 

You can buy the book from Flipkart and Amazon.

Happy Reading :-)

Book Review: Boomerang

I still feel so much involved into the story though I have finished my read few minutes back. I think it’s the author’s spell on the readers. Surely a un-put-down-able book which keeps me wonder about the author’s imagination. No book has ever made me so excited to review.

Book: Boomerang

Author: Rajshri Raajgopal

Publisher: Frog Books

ISBN: 978-93-82473-29-9

Verdict: Thrilling story of a young women and a very intriguing read.

Blurb:

Set in a scenic village on the outskirts of Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala, this is the story of the struggles of a woman in its hostile society. The journey of Anna through her battle for freedom from an unhappy household, her first love, a debilitating marriage and a stressful divorce shows the reader how difficult life is for a young woman even in this modern era. Her remarriage is a blessing in every way but it comes with a curse too Anna finds an unusual friend who is determined to destroy her new life.

Review:

‘Boomerang’ by Rajshri Raajgopal, turns to be a thrilling read which talks about the journey of Anna, the protagonist, with an unusual friend of her. You can find the reason behind the title as you read the book. The cover page and the title are well used to hide a mystery under it. The back blurb is so brief that no one can ever expect much out of it which has helped to maintain the suspense.

Anna, a young girl who starts her new journey in a small village of kerala, initially enjoys her freedom to fly unlike the other girls who were restricted to have fun like her. Her parent’s failed marriage gives her no peace and she longs to find her love of life. Her first love gives her a heartbreak which makes her to fall sick. Upon recovering, she finds a new career as a receptionist in a hotel where George enters into her life. He falls for her at the very first sight but she shows no interest towards him. Convincing her parents he succeeds in marrying her.

Her marriage with George ruins her life and she feels of being trapped inside his big house. Adjusting her life with George who makes use of her only to have sex and her in-laws who takes no care for her, she finally breakdowns seeing her husband having affair with another women. This sudden shock results in her miscarriage. After living a hatred life for five long years, she ends her marriage in divorce.

Dev’s entry changes her hopeless life into a beautiful and loving life. They fall in love and get married. He gives her all the happiness she has never seen before. Her life turns out to be so romantic and blessed until she enters his late sister’s room which is kept locked after her death. She then encounters Maya, a spirit. Thinking her as Dev’s late sister, she befriends her. They talk about their life and discuss various things. Anna feels happy for their friendship only to regret it later.

Maya tries to put Anna into her spell and makes use of her to be freed from the world where she no mores belongs to. Not knowing her intention, Anna promises to help her with what she demands later. A demand which risks her husband’s life but she is helpless to escape from Maya. She spends ten horrible nights to help her out and in the eleventh night Anna finds an end for her freedom from Maya.  

But what did Maya demand for? Who was she and what’s her intention? To know these intriguing parts of the story, I think one should surely experience their own read.

To sum up my review, I would say Ms. Rajshri Raajgopal, has done a stupendous work in her very first book. The narration was excellent which gave me a visual reading experience. The usage a simple language and the little poems between the narrations add up to the book. The matured detailing about sex is well written by the author. The conversation between Anna and Maya was so intriguing and the way the ghosts live there life is imagined so well. I found no flaw and the emotions of love, hate, sex and spirituals are so well blended. I would give full score for this book. I’m looking forward to read her next book soon and I strongly recommend this book. All the best Rajshri.

About the Author:

Rajshri Raajgopal (b. Rajasree Parthasarathy in Thrissur, Kerala) is a graduate in English Literature from Kerala University. She also gained CELTA from Cambridge University and Postgraduate Diploma in Pre-Primary Teaching from Pune. Rajshri was a Cabin Crew with Emirates Airline and has lived in Dubai, Ireland and United Kingdom, before relocating to Bangalore. She also writes children books for Mimitra Enterprises. Her first book in this genre is Mani. She is a single parent whose determination to become successful led her to fulfill her dream of a writer. Boomerang is her first adult fiction.

You can buy the book from Flipkart and Amazon .

Happy reading :-)

  

   

Book Review: Wise Enough To Be Foolish

Book: Wise Enough to be Foolish

Author: Gauri Jayaram

ISBN: 978-81-8495-456-2

Publisher: Jaico Books

 No. of pages: 205

The Blurb:

Wise Enough to be Foolish is a fictionalized memoir that traces the journey of an Indian girl’s life, with all its challenges and delightful surprises, as she blossoms from an insecure child into a confident young woman. This roller-coaster ride of adventure, laughter and heartache, as she balances her love life with her struggle for independence, will keep you guessing – What rules will she break next? How far will she go to find herself?

Review:

Gauri Jayaram’s ‘Wise Enough to be Foolish’ is a book of her own journey of life which turns out to be bold lesson for any young women. It talks about the choices of her life and the way she managed to live in all situation in her own legs.

This flashback of the author’s, starts with her childhood days in Bangalore and how she longs for her parents love. She turns out to be a naughty brat, while her father, a pilot in the Indian Air Force, expects her to be a lovely daughter. Her behavior disappoints her parents and thus finds no love from them. Her school life is written well where she turns out to be the only girl in the football teams and her friendship with boys keeps her away from all girlish behaviors. Her crush Saiff, changes her life in unexpected way and make her realize her capability.

Her college life in Mumbai is not explained much but her life in hostel with her friends is full of fun and joy. Her love with Rahul ends when he asks her to convert to Christianity. After her college she meets suraj and falls in love with him only to break up few days before their engagement. She realizes that they are not meant for each other.

Her struggles for a career in travelling sector and her first trip abroad is so well addressed. Her relation with Zaid, her colleague, ends up in love and they secretly get married in register office. Though he is a muslim, parents of both accepts their relation and arranges for a reception to let the world know about them. Sudden change in Zaid’s behavior after marriage disturbs her and later she finds his affair with Maria. Then she moves out from his life forever. She then travels to the USA to forget all the sour feelings and she registers in a matrimonial site to get a perfect man for her. She then meets all her suitors and finally finds Uday in her life. She is now living in Bangalore with Uday and daughters Aprajita and Gayatri. 

I believe the author’s motive for writing this book is to teach women to take life as it comes. This story of her life experience will surely inspire those women who are in need of moral support to take the correct path in their life. 

To sum up my review, I would say Mrs. Gauri Jayaram has taken a good effort to make this book. I appreciate her boldness to write her own mistakes and choices of life into a book. The narration is very refreshing and the language is not so complex. The cover page is very attractive and the title best suits the story. Only thing which I found odd was the number of characters which made me confused to remember. Overall the book was entertaining. I would give an average of 3.5 for this book and would say a must read. I’m looking forward to read her next book soon and I strongly recommend this book. All the best Mrs. Gauri Jayaram.

Author’s note:

Mother of two girls, amateur athlete, part-time writer, management school drop-out, traveler, entrepreneur, in full-time employment with the world’s largest escorted touring company and women behind The Active Holiday Company, Gauri Jayaram is a little bit of many things and still not satisfied! She frequently combines her love for long distance running with rock music.

For more about this book visit www.wiseenoughtobefoolish.com

You can get your copies from Amazon, Flipkart or Homeshop18.

Happy Reading :-)