Review: Hold My Hand by Durjoy Datta

Some books can't be described in terms of the content and plot they carry in them. They have a lot more in them than we as a reader think of. Stories which are free from regular cliches and with a different tell tale for everyone. Author Durjoy Datta in his latest novel "Hold My Hand" takes one more step towards exploring human emotions in a different way. So is this story different from the others? Let's find out. 

An awkward young man, Deep, obsessed with libraries and books, has his dream come true when he is sent to Hong Kong by ATS Technologies to study and test the library cataloguing software at its head office. There he sees - the most beautiful girl he has ever laid his eyes on, But there is a twist to this love story - Ahana is not just stunningly beautiful, she also has a rare congenital disease leaving her blind. Together they explore Hong Kong Aahana guiding with the smells and sounds of the wondrous city and Deep bringing to life the sights he sees.

For starters Durjoy Datta has moved on from lengthy yet catchy titles. This time it's simple and describes a simple human emotion in a simple manner. The cover page has a hand of a boy and a girl with a picture of Hong Kong held by the edges and this experiment might work in the favor of the book. It's different. The blurb in its first few lines won't excite a reader but the last few lines about Ahana will make you think otherwise. The blurb is not so author's style. It could have been much better. 

The story is about Deep the nerd guy who is so busy and buried in his books that he is hardly got time for other pleasures of life. He is not so smart, tall and little old school with extra caring parents and a single friend in Aman who is completely opposite to him. He gets an opportunity to works in Hong Kong and there he happens to cross his eyes with Ahana which instantly clicks into an unsaid relationship between the two and blossoms with time. Ahana's blindness is a hindrance for her, Deep's insecurities about himself is a hindrance for him, a cool dad in Ahana's father as match maker is there till the end for his daughter. Will Deep & Ahana be together or it'll end up in just a chance meeting in a stranger country? 

The story is in four parts talking about Deep and his friends and his life in the first. In the second part spilling over to Hong Kong and Deep's chance meeting with Ahana in the hotel and exploring Hong Kong along with Ahana. The third part explores the deep emotions of Ahana's father and his attraction towards Sadhika and Ahana's ex- boyfriend Aveek and not to forget the untold attraction between Deep & Ahana and finally the last part which will reveal what happens to their love story along with a surprise for the readers.The most interesting aspect of the book is the third part which will really make the reader's heart go out for Ahana and her courage to face the world. The end of the story is enough to make heads spin of the readers for sometime. Hong Kong has been described to perfection in the story. 

The first part and second part of the story are dull and slow. They won't excite the readers much. Aveek's character is out of sorts in the story. It needed a little more attention. The build up to the main story takes a lot of time in the book. 

It's not a typical college love story. It's not typical author Durjoy Datta's style. It's not a regular story. It's an experiment towards exploiting love through the eyes of a blind girl and a nerd boy. This experiment is partly successful partly not. But it deserves at least the required attention for Ahana's story, for Deep's story and for their unnecessary insecurities and their unspoken love for each other.  

RATINGS:

3 OUT OF 5. 

Review: One Last Time by Shubham Arora

There are few stories which have never ended the way one thinks about. Readers always have some after effects after reading incomplete stories. Author Shubham Arora in his novel "One Last Time" narrates one such story with a mix of some events from the past and a future which is left to reader's imagination. So has he succeeded in his efforts or not is the thing to be found out in this review? 

One phone call changes it all for him. Her phone call. After one full year. She is in the US, informing him about her marriage. She wants to meet him.
He had moved on, at least thats what he had made himself believe. Unsure of everything, he books a flight from New York to Carolina to give his past the final closure.
The journey brings all the painful memories back to him. They have both come a long way since they first met as kids and then again as adults, before parting ways and . . . moving on.
But flight 1549 is not destined to reach its destination. Unaware and oblivious, he is lost in his memories of her.Ambala. New Delhi. New York.Love. Career. Distance. Longing. Separation.Will he realize her importance in his life? Will she ever find out who she is actually meant for?
What if he doesn't live up to the day to meet her one last time?

The title is touchy no doubts about that. The cover page ain't that impressive. It just doesn't gels with the title. The blurb hints towards an emotional story which instantly connects with the readers. The cover image could have been much better if compared to the title and the blurb of the book. 

The story is a mixture of past and present of Ishaan & Tithi and their journey from childhood to the teens and the years which were lost because of an uncalled for separation and then meeting again by chance and rekindling their old romance. They depart again by fate and choice and problems galore and then it's upto them to get out of the mess. Will they be able to get back together or fate has planned something else for them? 

The narration is smooth as per reader's taste. The author has chosen to keep it simple in terms of vocabulary. The story has been divided into three parts: Ambala, New Delhi & New York. Ambala talks about childhood, New Delhi about their romance & New York about all the problems. This concept works in the favor of the story. A few encounters with Aman are a reminder of good old school days. 

The story lags a lot in terms of emotions, depth, connectivity and expectations. Many events in the story happen out of the blue. A slow and low 1st part, a bit charming second part and totally out of sorts third half have marred the story's reach to the reader's heart. Love is all blink and miss in this novel. Emotions loose footing time and again. Cricket has taken too much of space in the story. Paragraphs in the entire book should have been much more shorter in terms of length. 

There are not too many brownie points in the story except for an end which is a bit different from the rest of the story. It should be U.S flight not us flight. It looks more like us than a country's name. It just doesn't get the treatment in terms of expressions and love which was the requirement of the story. It won't suffice a readers expectation if you are looking for an extraordinary love story. 

RATINGS: 

2 OUT OF 5.  

Passionate: You or Me

There was passion in our heart
there was passion in our soul.
when we met the first time
there was passion in our talks too. 

There was passion in our bonds
there was passion in our commitment.
when we held each other too close
there was passion in our bodies too. 

There was passion in our eyes
there was passion in our love.
when we let our lips loose

there was passion in our breaths too.

There was passion in our promises
there was passion in our happiness.
when we consoled each other
there was passion in our cries too.

There was passion in our understanding
there was passion in our trust.
when we walked hand in hand
there was passion in our steps too.

There was passion in our smiles
there was passion in our voice
when we faced the world together
there was passion to take the world by storm too.

There was passion in our heart
there was passion in our soul
when you turned back around
there was passion the way you left me too.

Review: Mumbaistan: 3 Explosive Crime Thrillers by Piyush Jha

Crime Thriller is a genre which needs absolute perfection when it comes to writing. The minutest details, the hero, villain and supporting casts and the plot should be woven well enough to test the reader's mind. Author Piyush Jha in his novel "Mumbaistan" brings three stories for the readers set in the streets of Mumbai to test the taste buds of readers. So is he successful in bringing out the best in terms of crime thrillers? Let's find out. 

Mumbai, a city of dreams for many. But for others, a nightmare. Behind the façade of lustre and glamour churns a seething underbelly of squalor, corruption and crime.
Mumbaistan’s three explosive crime novellas unravel the subterranean secrets of maximum city—from the teeming maw of Dharavi and the wanton streets of Kamathipura to the swank high-rises of Bandra.
A prostitute, her lover and a policeman play for high stakes in Bomb day. Injectionwala exposes chilling medical malpractices and a lovelorn vigilante’s twisted game plan. In Coma Man, a man awakens from coma after twenty years, and sets out in search of his wife—and himself.
Macabre love stories, conniving cops and hard-boiled slumlords form the backdrop of a schizophrenic city that is brooding… dying.
Welcome to Mumbaistan; a gritty, compelling take on the megalopolis that lives on the edge.

The title suggests about three stories set in the heart and the streets of Mumbai. The cover image goes along well with the title. The blurb gives an indication of three plots which will be later unveiled in the book with their titles in tandem with the one liners. The title of the stories is enough to generate a fair amount of interest in the book. 

Story No. 1: Bomb Day

It's about a prostitute and her lover and Alamzeb a third person who is madly in love with the prostitute. It's a story of Bombay bomb blast set in the lavish buildings of Mumbai and moving to the darker red light areas of the district. 

The plot has been woven with a good bit of surprise for the readers in its initial narration. The story exploits all the necessary elements of a crime thriller to the fullest and with a lovely twist in the end to keep the readers hooked and mesmerized by the sudden change of events in it. It's worth the time spent by the readers in reading it. 

Story No. 2: Injection Wala

It's about Dr. Porus who is out on the streets of Mumbai to revenge the death of his father because of a heinous kidney racket involving high profile Dr. Jeth and others. He slowly and steadily plans his revenge and goes on to dish out justice for the poor and innocent people. Inspector Virkar with his rough experience in a metro city gets a sniff about the whole plot and then proceeds on to catch the killer termed as Injection wala. What role Dr. Saakshi plays in the entire story and what happens to the most sought case in the media in the end is the entire focal point of the book? 

The story again involves high octane drama involving high profile people, a killer on loose, a lustful lover and not to forget the rough, ragged and tough Inspector Virkar. The mysterious air surrounding the actions of the killer and the lengths and breadths which Inspector Virkar will go in order to unearth the killer are the most entertaining elements in the story. Absolute justice has been meted out in terms of the plot and it will arise the curiosity of the readers time and again with a very different end to the story. The love, the revenge, the deceit and the darkness of a man are well exploited in the story.  

Story No. 3: Coma Man

Samir Khanna has been in deep coma for 19 years in a hospital and he suddenly rises up screaming recalling events of his past. He's there after on a run and with a victim of his own judgement and flurry of people after him he goes on to rediscover the reason behind his cryo sleep and what happened on that fateful day. Tagging along Raghu Nadar and few local goons who are unknowingly harmed in his quest it turns out to be quite a fest for many a feast for people like Raghu & Samir. 

The story is slow paced as compared to the other plots in the book but it has enough elements of its own like the washed memory of Samir, the corporator Raghu, the police on a blank trail and local goons who are in pursuit of an innocent looking Samir for his wife Bahaar and his ever eluding past. It picks up pace in the latter half with glimpses of his past reoccurring again. The edginess and innocence in his character are the main exploits in the story. The end though a sad one in terms of a crime thriller but a heart wrenching one is enough to make people remain shocked for sometime. 


All in all it's been complete justice done to all the three stories by the author and he has not left any stone unturned to entertain and enthrall crime thriller fanatics. The characters, their roles and the plots twisted time and again will help people witness another new aspect of writing  in this genre which is still blossoming in our country. 

RATINGS: 

4 OUT OF 5. 

Review: Flirting with Fate by Preeti Singh

Mystery fiction is a genre which takes a lot of calculative approach by the author in order to enthrall the readers. Many writers have explored this genre to perfection. Author Preeti Singh puts a step forward and has tried to shake up the minds of the readers with her debut book "Flirting with Fate". So has she put enough efforts to flirt with the taste of the readers or it's just a blink and miss? Let's scroll down to find out. 

To what extent can we go to get love to be accepted.to be happy? Can we commit any crime anywhere,anytime and get away with it? 
Well.. Anand does..
A beautiful looking boy is adopted but deprived of love and acceptance. In search of love.acceptancestatusAnand takes the easy path of crime.bloodshedtheftrapelies. From his mother figureto his sexy teacherto his first love.Anand does just about anything possible to get love.acceptanceand happiness.
Don't we all do that too?
Anand has it all.money..womenpower. but is he really happy with life? He cleverly escapes the law.camouflages his crimes.but can he really escape his fate? Join Anand in this journey which is a mirror of our souls..our suppressed emotions. angers fears.. desires. lustpassion.love.hatred
Will you think twice before committing a crime or telling a lie? Do we really reap what we sow? Does Karma really return or is it just a myth? Does Anand pay for what he has done or does he also get away, like most of us?
Let's find out.it's about time

The title is impressive and gives an impression of a rough piece of work lying in order to catch the attention of its creator. The tagline suggests about what you do to others you have to pay for it accordingly in this life only. The background image depicts few currency notes and a hand in an awkward manner. The blurb is an easy source for the readers to get hang of the story. This one is no exception too. But what the entire story is about has been concealed well by the author. 

The story is about a child who on an fateful day is found abandoned in front of Palash an orphanage for children and immediately given shelter by a caring and a gentle man Mr. Gonsalves. All love is showered upon the baby boy and is given the name Anand. But contrary to his name Anand turns out to be demon's favorite child as he crushes hopes of many, uses many and turns out to one wicked man who just walks blindly surrounded by his ego and evil deeds. How he goes about his business in order to gain his love, acquire money and then spend rest of his life in peace is the summation of the book. Will he able to achieve it or god is watching him and he might have to repent his actions?Only time will tell. 

The story portrays the dark twisted side of Anand who is young, rash, abusive, loner, passionate and perhaps an evil who walks upon the earth rampaging it's beautiful creations. He is the lead protagonist and the complete story will revolve around him and his actions. The plot has been twisted and thought upon brilliantly by the author. It's edgy, gory, deceptive and compelling story of a mad man. It's a mystery fiction written from the angle of an antagonist who also happens to be the protagonist too. Characters like Miss Joseph, Aslam Bhai, Sunita, his love Gauri, his mistress & not to forget the dog Fluffy have an important role to play in the story. It's a mysterious story with new and dark ideas tumbling out of Anand's head with the turn of every page. 

The editing is not at it's best. It should have been Shimla or Simla. The author should have stick to one of the spellings. Dehradun's spelling is incorrect too. It's jao and aao not jaayo and aayo. The dog Fluffy has been given too much importance and characters like Mr. Gonsalves have been left fending for themselves. 

A brilliant first half with a predictable second half and a twist towards the end makes it one of the most compelling books with a different perspective to it. It can surprise the readers, it can scare the readers but it can make them realize too in the end that you can't escape the wrath of god by trampling along poor innocent souls for your selfish purposes. Live the tale through an Antagonist's eyes. 

RATINGS: 

4 OUT OF 5.   

Turn back time!!

Sometimes I wish I could turn back time
and bring back the glory days of mine. 
Each moment was like a golden dime

and each clap was like a church bell chime. 

Sometimes I wish I could turn back time
to cheer the success with a glass of wine. 
Each moment was like a golden dime
and appreciation made me feel on cloud nine. 

Sometimes I wish I could turn back time
and earn the trust of people who whine.
Each moment was like a golden dime
and I was not afraid to cross the danger line.

Sometimes I wish I could turn back time
and see the cheerful faces along with mine.
Each moment was like a golden dime
but I just faltered near the finishing line.

Sigh!! I do wish to get back that time.

Review: The Redeemers by Suresh Taneja

It's a society which everybody dreams of. It's a future where each and every person wants to enjoy all the riches of the life with minimum hassles. It's a long fight to achieve the dream of a developed nation. But somebody needs to take the first step. Author Suresh Taneja in his debut novel "The Redeemers" talks about the future of India. So whether the future portrayed and painted by the author is a good enough picture or is it a hazy one? Let's find out. 

One bizarre vacation marked a turning point in the lives of four teenage friends. It dawned upon them that corruption and malpractices had become rampant and deeply ingrained in our culture. They felt anguished and shocked at the shameful state of affairs. They pledged to redeem and change the destiny of the country. They had only two weeks of vacation left to take some big initiatives. The pressure on them was immense. Status quo or failure was not an option for them. Read the inspirational story of a unique movement masterminded by youngsters through innovative ideas and creative thinking. Not a single family could escape from its unrelenting onslaught. It was a rewarding outcome for their persistence and hard work, as they nostalgically recall in 2030.

The cover page shows four people celebrating some kind of success. They are rejoicing over something big. The title gives more of a sci-fi feel to it. The blurb talks about the futuristic India. It's about India in 2030. It's not a college love story rather it's an inspirational story as mentioned by the author in the blurb. It's a good blurb but it won't feel connected with the title. 

The story is set in future i.e 2030 where India has transformed into a superpower and is rendering help to U.S as four people recall old times which led to these changes. It's about a gang called G4 which comprises of Yuvika, Akshay, Vikram & Manisha. They have survived the odds to tell the tale to their kids about how India went by all these changes and became a superior nation in comparison to others. It's all discussed on a vacation to U.S. 

The story is the brainchild of careful observations, meticulous working on facts and figures, observing the patterns of people in India and most of all it's about corruption, the corrupt, the scams, administration and it's loopholes. It's been narrated through the eyes of 4 determined children who set out to change the world with a movement which has power, the will and the sacrifice required in order to awaken the youth to take the mantle in their hands and root out the evils which have made the strong foundations of our country weak. It's a story of redemption, pride, honor and respect. It's full of ideas which can very much lay the foundations of a strong nation. The future has been carved out brilliantly by the author. The ideas and the movements have been connected well enough to rattle the brains of the readers. Conversations and one on one interviews with politicians and media are an asset in the book. Characters have been carved out well with respect to the sensitivity of the subject. Media's role has been highlighted well too. 

This book might not suit the taste of the readers because of it's unconventional theme. It's the first  step towards creating awareness among people about their misleading surroundings. Some readers might find the terms G4 & G6 annoying too.   Kolkatta is not the correct spelling. It's Kolkata. 

It's a brilliant attempt by the author towards highlighting the problems of the nation. We can't deny the facts and accusations. He has made us feel we all are part of this system and we all need to work together in order to sustain the democracy we achieved after a long struggle. It's the future whose glimpses can be seen in the book. There's a change coming and it starts from this book: a brilliant mixture of fiction and reality. The message is loud and clear. If you want to be the change get ready to walk on a path of struggle, obstacles and surely one day success will dance on your fingertips.

RATINGS: 

4 OUT OF 5.