Age Of Hiblisk by Sumukh Naik

Title : Age Of Hiblisk
Author : Sumukh Naik
Genre : Fiction / Fantasy
Publisher : APK Publishers
Pages : 400
My Rating : 6/10
Reviewed For : Author / South Asian Challenge 2013 / First Reads Challenge 2013 / IQRC 2013

Blurb:

 

“Age Of Hiblisk: A Story with a Soul” is the journey of Prince William and Princess Sara, the protagonists, through the magical and spiritual worlds of Pantolis, Hiblisk, and Ikra. As their voyage unfolds, they realize the true motive behind the terror employed by the dark forces of Dushtt to claim supremacy over the lands of Pantolis and beyond. Every new revelation brings to light the methodical madness employed by the dark forces and secrets of Mother Nature, which have been safely guarded for ages by the various civilizations of the secret worlds. Their journey also introduces them to the divine forces that monitor the functions of the world and gives them access to legendary, mystical weapons and advanced spiritual knowledge which illuminates the flow of their understanding and actions towards various aspects of life. They use the knowledge gained, to try and bring peace, to their war ravaged lands and fight the ever growing might and influence of the mysterious dark forces that haunt their kingdoms. Will the light of all that is divine, fighting under the banner of Prince William and Princess Sara, flicker away into oblivion against the might of the dark forces under Dushtt, or will they survive?...Only time in her womb holds the answer, potent enough to change the outlook of the very world we live in.

My Review:

“Age Of Hiblisk: A Story with a Soul” is a fascinating and thought provoking novel that is difficult to classify in any one genre. That is because this read has an eclectic mix of fiction, fantasy, adventure, magic, spirituality and philosophy – all blended in together. Set in the magical and illusionary worlds of Pantolis, Hiblisk and Ikra, this read charts the magical & spiritual voyage of a prince and a princess who set out to reclaim the balance of nature which has been perturbed due to rise of evil forces and which is threatening the very existence of their world.

The story commences with mysterious & grisly occurrences taking place in the Himra forest of Zyren village which resides on the border of the two disputing kingdoms - Jaguar and Ivory. Naturally, the peace loving villagers are terrorized and after futile attempts at trying to get to the root of the problem, they turn to seek the help of the prince of Jaguar as a last resort. Prince William, being the kind & fair ruler that he is, decides to help the villagers to relocate. However, in an unfortunate turn of events he himself gets trapped by the soldiers of Ivory and has to surrender. What seems as unfortunate at first glance, turns out to be destiny’s play later as the Princess of Ivory – Princess Sara joins hands with Prince Williams to ward off the evil forces. Helping them on their quest is the mysterious 11th Master of the “Order” – this Order is responsible to maintain the equilibrium in Pantolis & ensure its smooth functioning. The 11th Master who is the most powerful master in the Order recognizes William and Sara for the pure souls that they are and bestows them with magical powers. He then sends them on the expedition of setting the balance of good & evil right in order to save Pantolis. Thus, begins their journey in the magical land of Hiblisk where they go through various adventures and learn the valuable lessons of life & gain advanced spiritual knowledge from the various encounters in the magical land.

The most striking part of the read was the point that the author has put across which is quite different than the usual “good-always-beats evil-and-turns triumphant” tales that are abundant. In this read the author has explained that it always takes the balance between the good and the evil to maintain a state of tranquillity in the world and in its beings. Excessiveness of even one thing will ruin the order and create chaos. Another highlight of the read was the author’s imagination – Sumukh has without any effort created the worlds of Hiblisk, Pantolis & Ikra in its finest details and has blended them together seamlessly. The portrayal of the different characters, beings and scenarios make a major part of the read an engaging one inspite of it being based in a land of magic and illusion. Also, through William and Sara’s journey, the author has made an attempt to explain various philosophical as well as spiritual aspects of life. The maps provided at the end of the read prove to be helpful aids while reading the novel.

Coming to the drawbacks, the major sore point was the connect. The author has followed a rather weird pattern in naming the characters & places throughout the read. While he started off with western names, as the read proceeded, the names turned Indian and the mix of Indian & non-Indian names didn’t really blend well. Secondly, the initial  pace of the read is a bit slow and it takes a patience on the part of the reader to move over to the more interesting part of the read. The major focus of this read is philosophy and hence, the plot consisting of almost no suspense has turned predictable. Also, the novel could do with better editing for a more more crispier and tighter plot.

To give the debut author credit, the reader gets much more than they bargained for. The language is simple which makes it an easy read. The read is packed with subtle yet beautiful messages on spirituality and philosophy. Kudos to the author for following the unconventional path and experimenting with a new genre for a debut work.

Thundergod : The Ascendance of Indra by Rajiv Menon

Title : Thundergod: The Ascendance Of Indra

Author : Rajiv Menon
Genre : Fiction / Mythology
Publisher : Westland Ltd.
Pages : 384
My Rating : 7/10
Reviewed For : MySmartPrice Books / Indian Debut Writers Month 2013 / South Asian Challenge 2013 / First Reads Challenge 2013

 

 

Blurb:

 

One day a prince from one of the four great tribes will unite the sons of Aditi and he will sow the seeds of an empire that will rule the world. Born of a prophetic union between the Earth Goddess Gaia and Daeyus, chief of the Devas, comes the story of a child recounted by history to have become a king and retold by legend to have transcended into a god. Indra, destiny’s orphan, finds himself growing up in a vortex of treachery and tribal incumbency. Shielded from the usurpers of his birthright only by the watchful eye of the warrior sage Mitra, he first sets out to conquer the hearts of his tribesmen, and then the kingdoms of the unmapped world. Aligning forces with his brothers by blood oath and divine intervention Agni, Vayu, Varuna and Soma Indra embarks on a military campaign of epic proportions, stretching from the Euphrates in Asia Minor to Harappa on the Indian subcontinent, encountering formidable armies, demonic beings and powerful goddesses, and losing the only woman he really loves. Will he get her to love him again? Will he avenge the death of his father? Will he assume his place in the pantheon of the gods? In a compelling saga, blended by history, spiced by legend and mutated by myth, Rajiv G. Menon transforms ten years of research into a lightning rod of an action adventure that streaks into your consciousness with the speed of Indra’s thunderbolt.

 

My Review:

 

Thundergod: The Ascendance Of Indra is a complete high-octane read from the outset. Being an ardent mythology buff, something in me (I call it curiosity) prompted me to read this one, if only to know how the author had portrayed a less popular God like Indra!! The Hindu has described this book as “a story of unbridled flamboyance from a debutant author”, so yes - unbridled it is and how!! Mediocre doesn’t settle it for the author, the events here are at the extremum -  swashbuckling action, bloodbath, heartbreak, amorous dalliances, revenge, cowardice, conspiracies, shifting loyalties – you name it & it has got it.

 

The story kickstarts with King Daeyus (who is the chief of Devas – a clan of barbarian warriors) leading his men on a mission across the vast sandy stretches of the Karakum Desert. So brave and virile he is, (The way his character is sketched, I am compelled to imagine him as Gerard Butler from the movie “300”), that even the Earth Goddess Gaia, who being an Elemental is forbiden from consorting with humans, cannot resist him. The result of this brief tryst is Indra – whose birth is prophesied and who is destined to unite the sons of Aditi. However, from the moment Indra is even conceived, forces of nature & human beings alike start concocting to annihilate him. However, destiny’s child – Indra remains protected by supernatural powers and guarded by the warrior sage Mitra.  As the years proceed, Indra grows up in a vortex of treachery, tribal incumbency and splintering loyalties. On attaining adulthood, Indra claims his birthright position as well as his childhood sweetheart’s hand in marriage. However, on the other hand he loses her love in a series of unexpected events and is left heartbroken in a single stroke. A heartbroken & brave warrior never fears anything and needless to say, what follows next is Indra’s ambitious quest - first to conquer the vanquishers of his father & then the kingdoms of the unmapped world. The author charts Indra’s journey as he turns into a war machine and attains a new high after every conquest. Supporting him in the carnage are his brothers who are bound to him by a blood oath – Agni, Vayu, Varuna & Soma. Finally, the hunter becomes the hunted and Indra finds himself ensconced in Swarga after he fulfils his prophecy.

 

The author has created a plot which resembles a grand game of chess, where many players are introduced and their roles constantly oscillating between being a pawn or a knight. The plot is replete with testosterone-charged, adventuristic voyages of the protagonist. The most striking part, however, is Indra’s metamorphosis from an innocent, mortal lad to an alpha male to finally a God!! As a reader, I found him endearing, sympathized with him, watched him run high on heady brews as well as ambition, plough down entire armies of humans & other creatures alike and finally deteriorating into a power hungry king. The author has not created stereotypical perfect God but has a sketched a very flawed protagonist with whom the readers will share a love-hate relationship. Another major highlight of this novel was the author’s earnest attempt in meshing together Indian mythology & world history. His love for Greek & Indian mythology as well as meticulous research is clearly evident in this read.

 

While the plot is packed with pace, it also includes a lot of graphic war & erotic details. While at the start they seem inevitable, page after page of war scenes in all its glory of bloodshed becomes repelling and slows down the pace of narration. Secondly, the author has filled the plot with motley of characters & frankly, I was overwhelmed by the vast array of characters. Also, whilst doing so, the author has wonderfully developed Indra’s character but whilst showering all his attention on Indra, the author has not done justice to the secondary characters. Especially, the characters of Vayu, Varuna, Agni & Soma are not fleshed out properly neither is their equation with Indra. And lastly, with all the anticipation for the final battle building up, the ending seems to be rushed & abrupt which left me absolutely unsatisfied.

 

When this read came out, it garnered a lot of mixed reviews. And after reading this one, I got a feeling very much like that – mixed emotions!! While the author has to be lauded for a beautiful & bold debut effort, I also wish to read a more crispier plot in the sequel sans a little bit of gore. All in all, this is a complete page turner that will keep the reader hooked.

Nick of Time by Komal Mehta

Title : Nick of Time
Author : Komal Mehta
Genre : Fiction / Romantic Comedy
Publisher : Penguin Metro Reads
Pages : 248
My Rating : 6.5/10
Reviewed For : Author / Debut Indian Writers Month 2013

Blurb:

Alehya is back in Chandigarh after ten years to attend her childhood friend, Shagun’s wedding. However, her plans are rudely interrupted when she finds out about the man Shagun is going to marry.

Vicky, is a sorted guy who knows exactly what he wants in life. His decision of marrying Shagun has the approval of everyone who means a lot to him—everyone, except Shagun’s best friend, Alehya.

Shagun is excited about getting married to Vicky. This fulfils her childhood dream of marriage. But with her best friend and future husband being childhood frenemies, will things go by without a hitch?

As the wedding draws near, Shagun, Vicky and Alehya grapple with issues of love, confusion and guilt to discover what their heart truly desires. They have to make life altering decisions, in the Nick of Time, before time runs out on them and the life of their dreams!

My Review:

 

The plot of Nick of Time by Komal Mehta is based on the theme of love, friendship & The Big Fat-Indian Wedding. Obviously, it has all the ingredients for a complete masala read & is entertaining to the fullest!! This book revolves around the lives of three childhood friends – Aleyha, Vicky & Shagun who are coming together after a period of 10 years for a marriage that invokes a lot more complications & confusions rather than the happiness associated with it. Because amidst the wedding chaos, Aleyha, Shagun & Vicky tumble headlong into life altering consequences where they discover what their heart truly covets.

The story kick-starts with Alehya quitting her frustrating job & just as she’s celebrating her freedom she receives a call from Shagun inviting Aleyha to Chandigarh for her marriage. A gleeful Alehya looks forward to a fun-filled time (which will be definitely liberating from the humdrum of corporate life) in Chandigarh for Shagun’s marriage. However, all her plans for merriment go for a toss when she meets “The Groom”. It’s none other than her childhood frenemy – Vicky with whom she has had a history of unsolved issues. Alehya hates Vicky with as much fervour as she loves Shagun. Needless to say, there is friction between Aleyha & Vicky from the word go and sparks fly when they meet. But herein comes the twist in the tale where Shagun is hell bent on playing the peacemaker between the two & schemes to put them together so that they get over with their juvenile banter & start seeing each other for what they really are. Though for Vicky & Alehya, their last chapter didn’t end on an altogether good note, they decide to put it past them & start afresh for the sake of Shagun. What follows is a roller-coaster of a ride where Shagun, Aleyha & Vicky find love in the most unexpected places & have to decide between the right, the wrong & their heart.

What makes this read interesting is the narrative point of view. The author has put forth the story through the point-of-view of Aleyha, Vicky & Shagun & we get a glimpse into the confusion that reigns between their minds & hearts. However, this is essentially Aleyha ’s story – she has always been the consummate good girl but that is until she comes to Chandigarh for Shagun’s marriage. Coming back she discovers an entire a new side to her which she never even thought that existed. Bollywood movie buffs will love this book since this read follows the distinctive romantic comedy storyline & a very clichéd path with its typical twists & turns. A few mushy moments, toe-curling romance, naivety of first love, the reality check, dilemmas, heartbreak & a miraculous happy ending – you have it all in here. However, in spite of the predictable story line there is a refreshing factor in the author’s narration that makes this read delightful as well as easy on the senses.

Coming to the drawbacks, honestly, I did not like the cover page. For a read like this, one might expect the cover to be glossy but this one seems dull. Also, while it was necessary to include the typical Chandigarh slang to create a relatable background, the overt use of Hindi dialogues was a tad bit extra which might put some readers off. The plot is fast paced but after the initial build-up, I felt that the story dragged a little bit in the middle before picking up momentum towards the end.

Having said that, this novel is a sweet, quick read that portrays the balance between love & friendship. The author wonderfully brings forth the point that there are always two sides to every story. Pick it up on a weekend if you want to have an indulgent time & you will breeze through it.

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A Short Affair Called Life by Rohit Kumar Singh Jadon

Title : A Short Affair Called Life
Author : Rohit Kumar Singh Jadon (RKSJ)
Genre : Fiction
Publisher : Leadstart Publishing
Pages : 195
My Rating : 6/10
Reviewed For : Author

Blurb:

 

Every now and then each one of us thinks of running away. Running away from everything, but we just cannot do it; Darsh goes for it. Though once, secure in his comfort zone, leading a very normal life, working with a multinational company, with a reputable position, and a perfect relationship with his college sweet heart. Yet, the usual, unanswered question, in his mind haunts him, What is the purpose of his life? He gives up everything and everyone to find a meaning to his life.
He finds out strangers are not so strange after all; they are like everyone else, mean and selfish, who will hurt you like everyone else. He discovers religion and spirituality the hard way, through his experiences. Finally, he understands the only divine way is to let live the human in you. He feels the pain of those in suffering and travels around unknown places, only to discover the already known truth of life.

My Review:

A Short Affair Called Life is a thought-provoking novel about self-discovery. In this read, the author has created a fictional yet relatable character – Darsh who is the quintessential & contemporary urban individual with a well-off & comfortable upbringing, a well-established career and a perfect relationship. Yet he is unsatiated with his perfect & normal life & is in perpetual search of that one elusive thing that will complete him, except that he doesn’t know what that thing is!! And hence he takes a  journey to figure out the intricate questions about life and mysteries surrounding it.

The book starts in the present day where Darsh is on a sabbatical, living into oblivion - trying to figure out the where his life is headed & what exactly does he want from life. The plot then moves back into Darsh’s past – his troubled childhood, the after effects, his love life & a special encounter with a spiritual person. These events have a major effect in moulding Darsh and his ideas about life and people. We then return back to the present where Darsh is still in a state of perpetual confusion but then a chance encounter with a stranger (Topi) triggers off Darsh in search of his answers to different locations.

Thus starts Darsh’s journey where he lives as a nomad & learns a new thing about life with each passing day through the hard way. The plot deals with almost every aspect about human life – love, family, friendship, pain, spirituality & ultimately happiness. The major highlight of this novel is that Darsh as the protagonist is very relatable. The first line of the blurb itself will strike a chord & will have many of us nodding their heads. There must have been times in each one of our lives when we have considered running away as an option to unresolved situations, confusion at crossroads or when faced with problems in life. And I am pretty sure that as the reader will proceed with the read, many of us will find a part of ourselves in Darsh. The author has chosen travelling as the medium to tell his the story. As Darsh travels from one location to another, he discovers new avenues & finds answers to his questions one by one. Another highlight of this read was Darsh’s experience at the Kumbh Mela. For someone who has never been to Kumbh (like me!), the description of Kumbh Mela & everything surrounding it was enlightening as well as interesting.

This novel is, without any doubt, the author’s work of introspection as the author’s thoughts leap out from the pages. Though the book starts on a promising note, there are a few places in the read where the plot seemed to move ahead in a random way & hence seemed disconnected. Also, the novel could have done with better editing which would have ultimately made the read a crispier one. There were a lot of spelling and grammatical errors which frankly, just hampers the joy of reading. Having said that, if you’re looking for a contemplative novel that you’ll breeze through, then this one will do.

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The Homing Pigeons by Sid Bahri

Title : The Homing Pigeons
Author : Sid Bahri
Genre : Fiction
Publisher : Shristi Publication
Pages : 328
My Rating : 7.5/10
Reviewed For : The Reader Cosmos Book Review Program / South Asian Challenge 2013

Blurb:

 

In the middle of the catastrophic 2008 recession, Aditya, a jobless, penniless man meets an attractive stranger in a bar, little does he know that his life will change forever…..
When Radhika, a young, rich widow, marries off her stepdaughter, little does she know that the freedom that she has yearned for is not exactly how she had envisioned it…..
They say Homing Pigeons always come back to their mate, no matter where you leave them on the face of this earth. Homing Pigeons is the story of love between these two unsuspecting characters as it is of lust, greed, separations, prejudices and crumbling spines.

My Review:

From the outset, The Homing Pigeons is an engaging read. As the tagline says - "Not all love stories are perfect but then, neither are people” - this is the story of two imperfect people coming together and making an equally imperfect love story. Having said that, let me assure you that this read is not the mushy romance that is generally associated with love stories.

                                                                               

The story starts with Aditya who falls victim to recession & hence loses his job. Almost a year of unemployment, desperate & fruitless efforts to find a stable job in the sinking recession-hit market & a loveless marriage drive him to the edge of frustration. Totally broke and running out of options, Aditya finds himself in a bar, spending the last batch of his savings & drinking himself to numbness when an attractive stranger takes a seat next to him. An initial round of drinks and a bizarre business proposition later, Aditya ’s life takes a complete 360° turn which he hadn’t imagined even in his wildest of dreams.

Anticipation of a moment is much bigger and alluring than the moment itself. Radhika learns this the hard way where the freedom that she has been craving for so much from a tiresome marriage & an equally tiresome life is not as gratifying as she had envisioned it. Young & rich yet lonely, Radhika tries to seek out the one thing that will inject some colors into her otherwise dreary life. This is the story of Radhika & Aditya, story of their life – together & separated yet connected to each other.

On first impressions, the two protagonists – Aditya & Radhika seem completely different from each other like the two ends of a diameter. As a result, when the story starts, the reader might get the illusion of two parallel stories running together. But as the story progresses and oscillates between the past & the present, the readers get a glimpse of their romantic entanglements. The major highlight of this read is its unique narration where the point of view keeps alternating between Aditya & Radhika with each chapter. It is indeed a great effort by the author in deviating from the normal pattern of narration and giving the reader an insight of both the protagonists’ views without being repetitive.

However, for me the best part of this read was the character development. Aditya & Radhika are both flawed & complex characters with many layers to them. At the start of the read both might seem spiteful, shallow even. However, as the story unfolds, these various layers are slowly peeled off and with each flashback the readers get a glimpse into their real world, their insecurities, their regrets and vulnerabilities. Aditya & Radhika - both get hurt throughout the course of their life, sometimes by others and sometimes by each other. Initially, they try to shield each other from the pain by playing the sacrificial lamb but when even that doesn’t work, they start shielding themselves from the pain further by hurting each other. As the plot progresses, the characters grow and transform from being hated to someone being empathized. Another highlight of this novel was the wonderful manner in which their paths kept intersecting in spite of them running away from each other.

The plot has its own tides and ebbs making it  gripping at times and slightly drab at others. The constant oscillation between the past & the present is at times a bit confusing. However, for a major part of the read, the reader remains hooked. The author has sketched real & relatable characters and that too helps in making this read riveting. All in all, this is a thought provoking read which will keep the reader engrossed.

Waiting for Dead Men's Shoes by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Title : Waiting for Dead Men's Shoes
Author : Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Genre : Chicklit / Mystery
Publisher : TKA Distribution (Kindle Book)
Pages : 203
My Rating : 8/10
Reviewed For : Chicklit Club

Blurb:

Underachiever Minette "Mini" Monroe has long dreamt of how much better life would be if only she were in charge of the world, said world being the independent bookstore in Westport, CT, where she's worked for the past half dozen years. After her beloved boss Colin Quimby is murdered, Mini gets her wish and also gets a chance to solve the case, aided by hot young Officer Michael "Mickey" Maus. Despite his unfortunate nickname - would any woman really voluntarily become part of Mini and Mickey Maus? - Mini takes a shine to him, but there's no real time for romance, not when Mini has her hands full dealing with Colin's viper's nest full of ex-wives, offspring, former business partners and current business rivals, all of whom had good reason to want to see Colin dead. Who will turn out to be the guilty party? The only way to find out is to read WAITING FOR DEAD MEN'S SHOES, a madcap comedic novel that proves that the Shakespeare Unabridged Globe and the Oxford English Dictionary are still a girl's best weapons.

My Review:

What happens when you find your boss murdered one fine day? While for many of us, a dead boss might be a Godsend reply to our unanswered prayers, for Minnie it spells something quite opposite!!

Waiting for Dead Men's Shoes kick-starts with a particular "Black Friday" night when our protagonist Minette Monroe's boss Colin is knifed to death. Minnie is the unfortunate one to discover his body. The plot then moves back into the past to chronicle the day's events when Colin encounters a threat from almost everyone. Starting from his ex-wife to his present one, his former business partner, his own employee and his daughter, Colin manages to piss off each and every person on the day he is killed - giving them all a motive to murder him. Adding to the hotness quotient of the murder mystery is the smart and smoking' hot young police officer Michael "Mickey" Maus who assists Minnie on the killer hunt.

When you sit down with one of Lauren's book, you know, without any doubt, that it is going to be a side-splitter. When I started reading this one, I thought that as a murder mystery it might be a bit somber but as it proceeded I realised that Lauren has once again delivered the laughs that are her trademark. The only thing that may hamper your read is that this novel has a lot of characters that you need to keep track of since each is a suspect.

F?@k Knows by Shailendra Singh

Title : F?@k Knows
Author : Shailendra Singh
Genre : Non-Fiction / Self-Help
Publisher : Rupa Publications
Pages : 256
My Rating : 6/10
Reviewed For : Blogadda

Blurb:

 

Funny and candid, yet rich in insights on how to really live life on your own terms, this unconventional self-help manual is unlike any book around.

What do you want from life? Are you on the right track? Are you truly happy?
If your answer to these questions is F?@k knows!, then this book is for you.

Find the answers to life’s most important questions with the help of uber-successful entrepreneur, Shailendra Singh, co-founder of Percept and inceptor of Sunburn. Told with sparkling, flavourful and in-your-face humour, this book will advise you on how to:

• Find yourself (Because you’re probably lost. Admit it.)
• Follow your heart (Because if you don’t then you’ll die unhappy, you stupid f?@ker.)
• Achieve your goals (You know you want to.)
• Live life like you give a f?@k (Because...why not?)

Candid and thoughtful, F?@k Knows will show you how to really live life on your own terms, to do what you want to do and not what you have to do just because your father said so!

My Review:

So I have a confession to make & it is that, consciously I never ever pick up a self-help book. I rarely read them & less so follow them. My brief tryst with this genre started with “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” & ended with “The Alchemist”. In came along this read from Blogadda and I decided to give it a try & guess what?? I was not disappointed!! What sets this book apart from the others of its genre is that instead of being the usual boring & loaded with complex concepts, this a light and breezy read.

F?@K Knows has been written by Shailendra Singh, who has B.T.D.T. Been there. Done that. A sports marketing guru, an advertising whiz, a Bollywood producer, a shrewd dealmaker, founder of Percept Advertising – on first glance, one may think that he has it all sorted out. However, when twin tragedies strike in the form of his father’s death & his own near escape from death, the author suddenly finds himself asking some the most basic questions about his life. He then realized that he had been living it all wrong and did not want others to repeat the mistakes that he did. Hence, this book was born, where in 73 short chapters he talks about life’s lessons with humorous and interesting anecdotes.

The cover in all its bright yellow glory gets your attention where a man’s head surrounded by a multitude of choices is depicted. As you read the book, you realize that this cover is as apt as it can be since it’s all about the confusions faced by the youth of today. Happy or unhappy, lost or found, heart or mind – what does one follow when given a choice?? Well, I will leave that for you to discover as you read this book.

From the outset, this is a sort-of autobiographical book where the author has used his own experiences from personal &  professional life to give us lessons on life. The chapters are short, very random and that I think is the key to their effectiveness. The author does not use complex or flowery language, neither has he made an attempt to be preachy. He just narrates an anecdote from his life in each chapter in simple, lucid language & then goes on to point what he could have done & what he did instead. He had used everyday situations that all of us face from time-to-time & has effectively driven home the hard hitting facts about life. Though the writing is peppered with humor and the author makes light of every situation, this read will definitely make you stop & think about your own life.

The writer’s writing style is casual, humorous & witty. Thought provoking ideas are put across such that they are easy to grasp. The target audience here is the young crowd & people facing mid-life crisis. However, there is an overuse of the work “Fuck” & the read is laced with sexual anecdotes at some points. Needless to say, it might not go down well with some readers causing them to skip the entire read, terming it as fickle.

Definitely not ground-breaking but overall it is an entertaining read, about introspection, being lost, the road less travelled & self-discovery. Kudos to the author for the outright bold yet thought provoking debut effort.

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com . Participate now to get free books!

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