Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Review of the Year 2020

 




 Welcoming year 2020 was not any different from previous years. We stayed awake until midnight as if assuring that the time ticked gracefully into the new year. We ushered in 2020 with the same kind of hugs, cheers, and jubilations as any other year. 

But like you invite a guest over and don't realize what impact that person will leave upon you...we were as clueless as to the world. Although the cases of Covid19 were already present in China, little did any of us realize that this virus will choose to travel the globe ticketless. 


Within a passage of a few months, our county declared stay-at-home as this bug was traveling at the speed of light. 

It was beating the marvel characters who would travel at the speed of light. 


 March 2020, when the abrupt lockdown announcement came. Thank fully all of my family was in town to get couped in the four walls of our home. However, we didn't have enough time to stock our pantry or the fridge with the essentials. Was always in the habit of shopping enough for five days, but then with the announcement of everything shutting down, chaos began. I could see it on people's faces while standing in long lines for checking out their essentials along with toilet paper and bottled water while I 'only' had the basics such as bread, vegetables, milk.


I still fail to understand why our community opted to shop more than required toilet paper and bottled water!!


Days ticked away to weeks and months while we chose to be indoors. Cooking, cleaning was my criteria, and my mind was busy scanning headlines and getting anxious. At the same time, the intellect decided to calm that agitated mind as I would mutter, "The Universe has a plan!" 


Plan alright!!


At a personal level: 

 I chose to make the most of this lockdown by creating some 'Me' time. I decided to exercise my physical body and my mental body and then hone my cooking skills. 

I finished writing a manuscript and published a book while being in gratitude every single day for good health and food on the table. 


These months the world was also shifting towards a change for the better. 

Some that I feel deserves mention:

  • #BlackLivesMatter awareness.
  • Climate changed for the better as the sky was visible and birds could be 'heard' chirping. 


Few pointers to ponder upon: 


When we said our goodbye to 2020 and welcomed 2021, I realize that most of humanity showed resilience and adapted well to the change. 

Although we have miles to go before we can move around on this planet like before, that awareness of freedom will always be deep down in our hearts that will fill us with gratitude over what he had. 


This period also saw the longing and embracing of our family members as we all were cooped up in those four walls. 

No doubt, man is considered a social animal, but this quarantine also taught us that distances could make people fonder. Since we all made, Zoom/WebEx calls to connect with relatives, friends world wide. 


People who caught the bug were quarantined. That I feel was a test of their mind as they were fighting this virus that has a reputation of creating havoc in the human body. For those who came out of the room hale and hearty not only defeated the virus but also got a victory over their mind's chatter. 


This bug has also taught us the importance of silencing our mind and it's constant chatter. Being an energy healer by profession, I always advocate the importance of mental quietude since that eventually affects our physical health. This period was a classic example. I came across many anxious people who couldn't understand why their mind was chattering so much, while they had to be stationed inside their walls. Sure, all those minds had personal issues. Having a mind over your mind is the key, and not mingling with humanity helped solve that issue. It also proved that every human's mind is so powerful that it can either choose to outshine or destroy oneself. 


Now when we think of all the above in terms of Vedanta: The Covid-19 could be an illusion, and maybe all of humanity is in the dream state imagining all the havoc this virus is displaying over the world? 


No doubt, there are no words for the loss of lives. 


If that's the truth: I pray we all wake up from this dream in the year 2021 and have a laugh at Maya's display. 


Saturday, October 5, 2019

Book Review: More Unfairy Tales by T.F. Carthick

Blurb


A knight rescues a damsel in distress. They marry, the whole kingdom rejoices, and everyone lives happily ever after. The end.

Or at least that’s what Official sources say. But what tales do insiders tell? What secrets lie buried deep inside Davey Jones’ Locker?What, dear reader, about The Unfairy tales?

The stories the Knight-in-Shining-Armour and the Damsel-in-Distress have never wanted you to know. Tales which Fairyland had kept locked up in secret and thrown away the key. Until our rogue bard went back in time and ferreted out skeletons hidden within secret cupboards of desolate mansions.

Our fearless crusader of truth and justice brings to you the second volume of revelations from fairyland.

You will find five more unfairy tales hidden within the pages of this tiny tome, the sequel to Carthick’s Unfairy Tales. Stories of elves out to decipher the ways of men and dwarves seeking to reclaim their own histories. Of spurned witches and lost wolves. These stories are going to change everything you have ever believed about fairyland and give you a peek underneath the gossamer threads of glamour and magic peddled by the Fae.
Read an excerpt

My Review:


As a child, I loved reading fairy tales, and when I heard about T.F. Carthick unfairy tales; I 

was not only interested but also curious, especially since I missed reading his first book. 

The author has taken five fairy tales 

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The Beauty and the Beast
Red Riding Hood
Rapunzel
The Shoemaker and the elves.


And turned them around. The characters are the same, but their personalities have been 

twisted. 

I enjoyed the fresh perspective of the author's take on the above stories. The language is 

simple, and the stories are entertaining, mainly since childhood, I have been used to the 

same old storyline. 

This book is recommended not only for adults but also for young adults who would love a 

fresh take on the plot as these characters have been with us since we started school. 




Grab your copy @

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About the author


T F Carthick is a Bangalore-based writer and blogger who has been blogging since 2008. He is an avid reader of Children’s Fiction, Science-fiction and Fantasy. Enid Blyton, J K Rowling, Isaac Asimov, Frank Herbert, Neil Gaiman and Douglas Adams are some of his favorite authors. His paranormal thriller ‘Bellary’ was one of the three stories in the book Sirens Spell Danger, published in 2013. Six of his stories have featured in multi-author anthologies and literary magazines. He has written over 50 short stories, many of which can be read for free on www.karthikl.com.

He is an Engineer and MBA from India’s premier institutes IIT, Madras and IIM, Ahmedabad and currently works as an Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Consultant at one of the world’s leading Consulting Firms.
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Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Review of Dangle by Sutapa Basu


DANGLE 
by 
SUTAPA BASU


Blurb
Stunning, svelte, smart Ipshita is a globetrotter. She treks across the world to gather bytes for the travel chats she designs and hosts for TV channels. Despite being a self assured and sophisticated entrepreneur, Ipshita is haunted by a nameless fear. Social interaction with men unleashes psychotic turmoil inside her, making her wary of male attention. Yet, the cold and aloof Ips is inexorably drawn to the three men she meets at different points in her journey.
Her arousal to the overtures of these men catches her unawares. Well-built defenses break as her dormant sexuality goes into overdrive until she discovers the horrifying truth about them…and herself.
Life puzzles. Secrets tumble out. Will she be able to reclaim her life or let it dangle?

My Review
Dangle by Sutapa Basu is a novel that could be described in just two words...TT, i.e., Travelogue and a Thriller. The author's protagonist Ipshita travels across the globe with an aim to capture nature for her chat show that she freelances to various TV channels. Amidst the clicks of raw nature, the author takes the reader on a picturesque journey that ranges from the skyscrapers of Chicago to the hustle bustle daily grind of New Delhi and then a peeks into the army life and the quaint and offbeat Imphal, Manipur followed by the scenic and colorful beaches of Indonesia. Ipshita's mental being is also challenged as she fights each temptation that surfaces around her. Unknowingly she gets lured by men named Amar, Akash, Steve. However, leaves herself in a suspension mode with regards to the above individuals. 

What I loved....the author's research of the locales and the various destinations is commendable. The grip over her language was a smooth sail for the reader in spite of the protagonist being in a dangle. Sutapa has explored the various intersections of life where Ipshita is left swaying in confusion. 

Eventually, her fantasies are uncovered while uprooting her hallucinations. Illusions are exposed, and she was made to ponder over an incident that triggered when she was a teen. Thus, the root cause of all the above. It was engrossing but as a reader, I got the clue too soon when the protagonist read about the crash of Amar Seth en route to Delhi. That could have been delayed (my 2 cents!)

The games of the mind were uncovered, and she was labeled, 'cured' as she set about living her actual life with her long time childhood friend and husband, Aditya. But does the mind let her live this 'normal' life?  

Dangle is a novel about the power of the mind, and how it can capture the individual in spite of her being Stunning, Svelte, Smart and have a Flourishing Career. A Recommended read for people who love to live on the edge or study the mystic mind.

Grab your copy @


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About the Author


An author, poet and publishing consultant, Sutapa Basu also dabbles in art and trains trainers and is a compulsive bookworm. During a thirty-year old professional career as teacher, editor, and publisher, she travelled the Indian subcontinent, Nepal and Bhutan. She has visited UK, USA, Dubai and Singapore while working with Oxford University Press, India and Encyclopædia Britannica, South Asia until 2013 when she decided to start writing seriously.  
Sutapa is an Honours scholar from Tagore’s Visva-Bharti University, Santiniketan and holds a teaching as well as a masters degree in English Literature. 
 As a publisher, Sutapa has developed and published around 400 books. Recently, her short story was awarded the First Prize in the Times of India’s nation-wide WriteIndia Contest, under author, Amish Tripathi. 
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Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Book Review of Sands of Time by Neelam Saxena



Sands Of Time 
by 
Neelam Saxena Chandra

Blurb 
'SANDS OF TIME' is a collection of twelve interesting stories which bring out the different moods and moments in the lives of women.
Watch it 



My Review
Sands of Time is a collection of powerful stories by Neelam Saxena. 

All these stories have one common body, a woman! All the women of her stories are either the victims or the guardian angels that help save the day or the knight in action. Thus, the author compares this lady to aqua since just as water takes the shape of a container and carries forth, this matron is versatile in spite of being talented and accomplished. She embraces whatever comes, and carves a path around it thus, making sure to inspire and exhilarate beings along the way. 

Such is the power of a woman!

The author has tackled all the arenas where the woman is battered ever since she is born. Her birth, her sacrifices more so since she is the weaker gender, the concept that she is the giver thus, the chances of prosperity come via her, her marriage and her sacrifices to embrace what may, her being battered since she is known to heal thyself and come out of the dark tunnel naturally. The stories that Neelam etched were no doubt heart wrenching but then as a reviewer I wanted more twists and turns to it more so to keep me intrigued and engrossed. No doubt, the discrimination, injustice, and abuse of thy woman was beyond acceptable and has never been tolerated by a respectable citizen of any country. 

There were some stories which started off very well such as "The Wings of Hope", " Hangover", "In the Killer's Hands", "SandClock." but lost the intensity mid-way. 

Some stories in The Sand of Time made me pause on the complexity of the woman. Reflection from the Past kept me engrossed and curious on why and how Nivedita's son, Niteesh was being harmed. The end was chilling!

The author has tackled an issue that is centuries old, yet tough to bring out the magma of this subject since the woman is a synonym of atrocity, kindness, and gentleness. So, to put out the twist and turns while keeping the matter critical needs just the right pinch of lemon and salt to bring out the tanginess yet keep it crisp and full of flavor.

Some Facts About the Author 


NeelamSaxena Chandra, an author of thirty-two books,is a record holder with the Limca Book of Records for being the author with highest number of publications in a year in English and Hindi (2015). She works as Joint Secretary (U.P.S.C.).  She has won award in a poetry contest by American Embassy, Premchand award by Ministry of Railways, Rabindranath Tagore international poetry award, Freedom award by Radio city for her lyrics. She was listed in the Forbes list as one of the most popular seventy eight authors in the country in 2014.

Awarded by eminent poet/lyricist Gulzarji in a Poetry Contest organized by American Society on the topic ‘Poetry for Social Change’.

Received the Rabindranath Tagore International poetry award -2014

Awarded PremchandPuraskar by Ministry of Railways (II prize)

Awarded by Children Book Trust, India in 2009.

Neelam also debuted as a lyricist in Shankar Tucker's composition 'Mere Sajan sun sun' and the song has won the 'Popular Choice' award  in Folk Fusion category in Radio City Freedom Awards.

Neelam is a record holder with Limca Book of records for highest publications in a year in English and Hindi.

Neelam and her daughter hold record for being the first mother-daughter duo to write a poetry book for the book 'Winter Shall Fade' in Limca Book of Records, Miracle World Records and India Book of records.

                   

         


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We leave you with a wonderful song penned by Neelam Saxena Chandra

- See more at: http://dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com/2016/02/sands-of-time-by-neelam-saxena-chandra.html#sthash.Qy1PltP7.dpuf