Review: Emotional Fool by Selva Ganapathy

Many a times in life people tend to experience few things which leave a long lasting impact on them. It may be good or may be bad. But it's after effects can be felt by that certain person who has undergone it and the people around him too. Author Selva Ganpathy in his debut book "Emotional Fool" has penned down his own life experiences which created an outlook for the future. So what are his life experiences? Let's find out. 

The protagonist, Selva narrates his life story ? his childhood, his upbringing, friends, travels, college life, career and Priya. The story revolves around Priya, his best friend and confidante who he eventually falls in love with & attempts to court. His sensitive nature leads him to take actions that are a typical & abnormal for people around him. What happens when he continues to let his heart rule his head?

First look at the title and it gives a touchy feel to it. The image and it's mirror image are a glimpse of a person who is sad and has undergone some trauma in his life. The blurb talks about the author who is the protagonist of the story too and some things which are going to change his life forever. It's a short and to the point blurb with a question mark in the end which can excite some readers. 

The story is of Selva and his journey of his first job from IIT Delhi, his friends, his active work for AID New Delhi and then his own family problems and the support he garnered and the love and care he distributed in people around him and then his attempts to woo a girl on social networking medium which fails and then finally he comes across Priya where his life takes a turn from where it's either a good or a bad end. Their conversations, their friendship and love for each other will be put to test and the end result will not suit many. What will happen to Selva in the end? Will Priya be there for him forever? What has life in store for both of them? That's what the story is all about. 

The USP of the story is straight forward and simple narration. The second point where it scores is representation of your own life without hiding facts and written with utmost honesty and dedication. The emotions love and friendship and it's after effects are scattered throughout the book. It's a bold step to reveal your own truth in form a book in front of the readers. 

The downside of the book is some grammatical and few spelling mistakes. The story though high on emotions brings nothing fresh in terms of story line and becomes too plain at times. The love and friendship dilemma doesn't have any excitement in it. 

The book is representation of emotions of a person and what he goes through in the end to achieve something out of it. It's a hope against the hope. It can make the readers cry a bit, smile sometimes and can jolt a few emotions too but you won't find anything new in it. It's a true story which makes it an interesting prospect for the readers. So keep your expectations minimum and be Selva's companion in his journey. 

RATINGS: 

3 OUT OF 5  

Review: Bankerupt by Ravi Subramanian

Banking Thrillers have been the flavor in the Indian writing industry for quite some time now. Few books have turned around the fate of this genre in favor of the writers. Author Ravi Subramanian in his latest book "Bankerupt" tries to take the readers for a ride of their lives based on banks, frauds and scams. So is he successful in weaving one more riveting tale? Let's find out.

A university is an institution for higher education and research. It can also be a place where academic brilliance leads to overinflated egos, bitter politics and finally, murder. Cirisha Narayanan, a professor who has risen meteorically, stumbles upon a cryptic message. Aditya Raisinghania, her banker husband, sets up a highly innovative financial hoax. Her profiteering father harvests Australias largest bird the emu in India. The US elections are on and the debate on gun control has reached a fever pitch. Set in Mumbai, Coimbatore and Boston, Ravi Subramanian creates an impeccably researched world where everyone has a motive to kill. Nothing is as it seems in this cunningly vicious thriller where the plot turns on a dime.

First look at the title and the cover and you can associate the book to a thriller and the author's previous attempts of writing banking thrillers. The title suits the theme of the book. The cover image portrays a man running away from something with a gun and a bag in his hand. It fits perfectly with the book. The blurb talks about two people and two different scenarios where there is a lot going to happen which will end up in a lot of mess. It's a typical thriller blurb not revealing too much of information about the story which sets the tone for the readers. 

The story has two plots in it. First one in which Aditya Raisinghania an investment banker with GB2 bank works across deals for many customers and suddenly is embroiled in a controversy when his old frind Shivinder and a company called Step Up Shoes come to them for loading off their assets. The two best friends hatch a plan and end up making a mess of it. Meanwhile an EMU bird business proposal comes to him and there he meets his future wife Cirisha Narayanan with whom he gets married and settle down. But his father in law fears a lot of problems in his business after sometime and it becomes a cause of worry for him. Meanwhile Cirisha working in MIT comes across some events which changes the entire world around her when her best friend Richard takes some hasty steps and ends up killing himself and a lot of people. A lot of political drama unfolds in the campus when James Deahl & Michael Cordoza two popular academicians with their own personal interests in a few things lead an all out assault and put in danger lives of many people. What is the fate of Cirisha & Aditya in the end? Will the mess from Mumbai to Boston be uncovered? Will Richard & the others get justice? That's what the story is all about. 

It's a classic case of a thriller which goes length and breadth of the continent and takes the readers for a ride of their lives. The number of surprises in the story keeps the readers engaged till the end. The deceptive nature of all the characters is a thing to watch out for in the book. The parallel plots in the story makes the head spin most of the times. The end in particular is very gripping and surprising. It's a delight for thriller readers. The book slow at start and pacy afterwards makes it interesting for the readers with vivid descriptions to go along with. The book has been inspired by a lot of real life events which have been woven into a thriller. 

The downside of the book is the elder Narayanan's tale which loses it's charm and gives a look of an unnecessary entity in the book. His part looked neglected and incomplete towards the end. 

The book once again like the previous thrillers from the author makes a strong case for itself. There's a touch difference to it it's more of an academic thriller than a banking thriller. It's a blend of scams, scandals, powerful political connections, manipulative nature of people, changing loyalties and not to forget the greed and the desire to succeed at any cost. It is edgy, mysterious, bag full of surprises and enough to make a reader dance to it's tunes till the end. 

RATINGS: 

4 OUT OF 5

Review: Algorithm of Future by Sandeep Sharma

Sci-fi thriller movies is the one about which the world is very much acquainted. Sci-fi thriller in books is a rare entity. Not many writers have attempted to write one. Author Sandeep Sharma in his debut novel "Algorithm of Future" has tried his luck with a sci-fi thriller for the readers. So does it have the thrills and shrills to keep the readers engaged? Let's find out. 

Everything was fine till that plane crash in China. Thats where everything started. Rakesh the youngest Mathematician who can predict the future using his mathematics. Aakash Singh Rathore the greatest Magician and the hypnotist who wants to rule the world. Rahul a friend, a RAW agent or something else? Here mathematics, magic and science will fight to decide the future of this world. Will Rakesh be able to save his family from the fate he himself has predicted? What happened that night from which Rakesh couldnt recover himself from 12 years? This is the story of revenge. This is the story of love. This is the story of friendship. This is Algorithm of Future.

First look at the title and the cover and a lot of readers will confuse it for a mathematics book. But that's not the case. It's a thriller based on mathematics. It's a typical cover image containing numbers and equations. The blurb talks a about a person and his particular set of skills which will help him in save the country. It's a good blurb and can be related to the title and theme of the book. 

The story revolves around a mathematician Rakesh whose life is maths. He develops a unique formula to predict the future actions of the people and ridiculed badly. He is dejected by it and one fine day he gets a call from a magician called Aakash Singh Rathore who proves to be his nemesis. Rahul along with his family lives in a constant fear as Officer Abhay of RAW and Rahul his long lost friend join forces with him in order to neutralize Rathore's threat. So what are Rathore's motives? Will Rakesh be able to stop him? What will he gain and lose out of it? That's what the story is all about. 

It's a thriller story and has thrills of it's own with quite a few surprises present in it from time to time. The story is more convincing in the latter part. The edginess of Rathore and the ever fumbling & confusing Rakesh are in stark contrast which sets the tone for the story. Few surprises and twists are eye catchy in the story. 

The downside of the book is editing. The grammar has gone for a toss in the book which is a huge turn off while reading the story. The algorithm which is the central theme of the book doesn't has any particular explanation to it as to what it is and how it's used to predict the actions of the people. The first half is a dull affair and a lot of things happen out of the blue in the story. 

The book overall had a lot of potential in it but fell flat on expectations courtesy poor grammar and a lot of unexplained parts in it. It has a touch of thrill in it but the sci fi element goes missing. The book needs fine tuning in order to make it an interesting prospect for the readers. 

RATINGS: 

2 OUT OF 5

Review: The Curse of That Night by Rochak Bhatnagar

It's a male dominated society. We often here some people brag about it in the public. Since the advent of human race a few minds have indulged in heinous activities which have not only let us down time and again but also put a big question mark on the existence of decent people in the society. Rape is one those crimes which has a long history behind it and has been a topic of discussion and something which has spun out of control in the recent times. Author Rochak Bhatnagar in his latest book "The Curse of That Night" has woven a story of one such girl. So is he successful in conveying the exact message to the audience? Let's find out. 

A fragmented policy and a vitiated public sphere characterise today's India. The question that is making rounds is whether we have become an intolerant nation. Obviously, there can be no simple 'yes' or 'no' to such a question; it all depends on the context in which it is posted.
You can practically get away with the most heinous crimes, be it murder, rape, corruption of the grossest sort, theft, graft, not to speak of the abuse of both law and morality in almost every sphere of life.
Abhijeet Raichand is the highest paid lawyer in Delhi with just one aim in life, to make money. He has a loving fiance Malvika, who supports him in every way. Darsh is an orphan. He was too young when his father died and left him with a responsibility, to take care of his little sister. He used to work as a rag picker and had just one wish, to get the best of education for his sister, Aarti. Everything was going on great until that brutal night. The night when Aarti was gang raped by three men, including Omi Yadav, son of an MLA.
Rape is a crime against human rights and is also violating the victims most cherished of the fundamental rights, the right to life contained in Article 21. And it is rightly said by someone, "While a murderer destroys the physical frame of the victim, a rapist degrades and defiles the soul of a helpless female".
The story revolves around Aarti, Malvika, Abhijeet and Darsh and their struggle to get justice. A corrupt system, political pressure and a lifetime of curse and trauma. Will Aarti get justice? Will those convicts get punishment for this brutal crime? Read on to find out!!

First look at the title and cover and the readers hearts will melt out for the crying soul as the cover image. The title is apt for the theme which is the basis of the story. The blurb talks about few people and their encounters with some people of influence and how one life becomes a matter of utmost importance. It's a very good presentation of the story and it's theme in the blurb. 

The story revolves around Abhijeet Raichand a rich and famous lawyer who has made a name for himself in the city. He falls in love with his intern Malvika and gradually love culminates between them. His brother Rohan has revenge and retribution in his mind. A chance incident brings Darsh & Arti as life saviours for Abhijeet and in return he takes care of them personally. Arti unawares of the cruelty of the world raises her voice against the son of local MLA and is brutally raped in order to satisfy the male ego. It causes a nation wide stir and loyalties and many other lives are turned around during the entire process. Will Arti come out of the closet? Will Abhijeet fight for justice? Will Darsh be able to support her sister till the end? It's a story of good v/s evil. 

The story has a plus point i.e the sensitivity of the theme portraying the injustice happening against the women in real life. The realistic points put across the entire story regarding rape have been well researched. The story has a lot of reality in it especially the second half where it turns out to be a upheaval battle. The narration is quite simple and fluid. It's a good blend of fiction and reality. 

The downside of the book is it's connectivity which is not present in the first half. The plot is weak at start and some details are amiss in the story which gives an incomplete feeling at times. The real life statistics and facts could have been inculcated in a much better manner in the book. 

The book though not an exemplary piece of work but still has enough in it create a sense of awareness in the society as to how to approach the matters of rape and other crimes. It acts like a bucket of water used to awaken the ignorant from the deep slumber. It's no regular romantic saga. It has to be read and thought upon with a serious intent. It's a book with an appeal to maintain the sanctity of the society and respecting women rather than destroying their very existence on earth for satisfying your own personal ego and greed. 

RATINGS: 

3 OUT OF 5

Help Me Please (Chapter-5)

 I wore a pink top with blue jeans and waited with bad breath for the clock to strike 12. As soon as it struck 12 Manav texted me and said "Sweetheart after 5 minutes come out". 

As my apartment was on the ground floor it was a bit easy to sneak out. I was worried as well as excited at the same time. 

I tip toed towards the back entrance of my house and saw Manav on his bike at a distance. I opened the door without making noise and then proceeded towards him with my chappals in my hand. 

Manav laughed at the sight when I ran up to him like a little child and then hugged him with the chappals in my hand. 

He giggled and said " Sweetie Pie these chappals are supposed to be worn in the feet". 

I smiled and said " Yes sweetu I'm wearing it". Now please drive us out of here before somebody sees us. 

Aye Aye Madame. 

I hopped on his bike and then as the bike picked up speed I held on to him tight and enjoyed my hair fluttering with the impact of the wind. 

He braked often and the touch of his body with mine sparked currents in my body. I just was engrossed in the moment. 

After driving for 15 minutes he stopped near a secluded spot outside the city with open fields and he parked his bike on one side of the road.

Sweetu what are we doing here? 

Wait baby. Give me a moment. 

He then proceeded towards the field and asked me to shut my eyes. 

I shut my eyes and waited for him for the next couple of minutes. 

Manav what is it? 

Just hold on please. 

I could sense the excitement in his voice. The moon and the stars were bright and making it a perfectly lit night. 

I was standing in the middle of nowhere and suddenly he whispered in my ears, On my mark open your eyes. 

Alright baby. 

1 2 3 Go. 

As soon as I opened my eyes he wrapped a red dupatta around me and ran towards the field and picked up a black jacket and imitated the DDLJ scene and started singing "Tujhe Dekha Toh Ye Jaana Sanam". 

I was in awe completely as he held my hand and we went inside the field and then under the bright light of the moon our lips met for the first time. 

Then out of the excitement he went down on his one knee and said, Will you be mine Simran a.k.a Tanya? 

I blushed hard and with tears in my eyes said yes. He slipped one necklace in my neck out of nowhere and I was surprised with the princess treatment. 

I couldn't hold back my tears and leaped at him with full force as we both fell down in the field and then we made love to each other for the first time. 

I just kept sobbing and crying as he was gentle with me at times and wild too but what made me love him more was the love and care in his eyes which I could see through with my gaze. 

Time just flew by as we lied in each other's arms and felt asleep after a wonderful Valentines Day experience. 

Suddenly there was a commotion and I saw 4 men dragging Manav away from me. My modesty was being challanged by them as they started passing lewd remarks at me. Two of them held Karan at gun point while the other two made way towards me. 

I was completely shocked and tried to ran away from there but they caught hold of me and dragged me by my hair. I had no clothes on and both of them were laughing menacingly drunk. 

My pleas and cries felt on deaf ears as they dragged me to the same spot where Manav & I were lying sometime ago. 

Manav's hands and legs were tied up and his mouth was stuffed with a dirty piece of cloth. He had been slapped and bruised and blood was pouring out of his wounds. 

I pleaded again and again but they were too drunk to register even a single word. 

How come such a hot item has landed up in the fields? said one of them. 

I had by then covered myself with bits and pieces of my clothes but to no avail. 

Sweetheart no need to cry. Don't cover yourself up. We'll take care of you. said another one tauntingly. 

Do not touch me please. Take money and leave me. Please I beg you. I was crying incessantly. 

We don't want money. We want you. said the third one smacking his lips. 

Please. Please leave me alone. Please help somebody. 

Manav please help. 

One of them took out a knife and flashed at Manav. See here you girl if you don't agree to our demands then we'll kill your boyfriend. 

No please don't do it. Leave us please. Please... 

She won't listen like this. Stab him. 

No no. Please don't. 

But it was too late. One of them had stabbed the knife in Manav's thigh and the knife made a deep gashing wound. 

I was horror struck at the sight as the two men approached me like hungry bears. 

I tried to get up but they caught me by my legs and hit me with a gun butt. 

The last I heard was muffled voices of Manav and devilish laughter of the 4 scoundrels. 



(To Be Continued)

Review: The Bankster by Ravi Subramanian

Thrillers have been part and parcel of the writing industry for a very long time now. Many all time greats like John Grisham and others have produced marvels in this genre and continue to do so. Author Ravi Subramanian in his book "The Bankster" takes the world for a spin with a banking thriller on offering. How far is he successful in spinning a web around the readers? Let's find out. 

Bankers build their careers on trust, or so everyone thinks, till a series of murders threaten to destroy the reputation that the Greater Boston Global Bank (GB2) has built over the years. Who is behind these killings, and what is their motive? 
When Karan Panjabi, press reporter and ex-banker, digs deeper, he realizes that he has stumbled upon a global conspiracy with far reaching ramifications a secret that could not only destroy the bank but also cast a shadow on the entire nation. With only thirty-six hours at his disposal, he must fight the clock and trust no one if he is to stay alive and uncover the truth.

First look at the title and the cover and the feel of a thriller being on the cards can be experienced by the readers. The man in a black coat with a gun and a hardened stance is a proof and an alibi to the title. The blurb talks about a conspiracy happening in a bank which has a lot more to it than it looks. The blurb is very good not giving out secrets of a story and leaving readers in a frenzy. 

The story starts off from Angola where a secret agent is involved in some heavy exchanges and then the story shifts to GB2 bank in Mumbai where a lot of activity has been happening under the pretext of hiring and new accounts being opened in their branches. There is a parallel plot running with the story where an old man Krishna Menon is fighting against government's new project of a nuclear power plant in Devikulam, Kerala which can spell doom for the inhabitants of the place. Amidst all this somewhere some murders in GB2 bank are left unnoticed until the murder of Raymond intrigues Karan an ex employee of the bank and now with a media corporation. His quest to uncover the whole mystery behind these murders/suicides leads him on a trail which will life curtains off a larger picture which will not only shake the roots of GB2 but also some international organisations too. So who's behind all this? Who is innocent and who is a criminal? All will unfold one by one as this is the dirtiest game ever played in the history of banking industry which will shake the roots of entire organisation. 

The story is a brilliantly crafted thriller set on the banking frames. The mesmerizing narration and the hidden secrets of characters in the book is the thing to watch out for. Readers mind will go for a walk as the story sometimes takes you on a long trail and then gets you back to the square one which is a plus point of the whole book. There's a lot of masala what an Indian reader desires for in the book. 

The downside of the book is the Devikulam part which in the end turns out to be a weak link of the book. It's existence in the plot just stretches the whole story too much. The end felt a little loose in the book which could have been tightened up more. 

The pace of the story and the narration of the events set the tone as it's a ride from Angola to Mumbai and the deceptive nature of the plot and the characters. The tone of the book is edgy and thrills a lot covering all the aspects of a thriller. Readers can enjoy a book which will make you run round and round in circles and then suddenly it'll be a realization that things were happening just before the eyes but nobody could sense it. It's a master thriller. 

RATINGS: 

4 OUT OF 5

Review: The Race of My Life : An Autobiography by Milkha Singh & Sonia Sanwalka

Writing about your own-self and making it public is a thing which needs lots of trust and patience of the others. Not many are able to pen down the exact emotions of what they have been through in their real life.  Sir Milkha Singh in his autobiography "The Race of My Life"  has tired his best to give a sneek peek of what he went through and ultimately how he reached within touching distance of his dreams and ambitions and made it till the end. Let's find out what is in store for the readers. 

Milkha Singh has led a life dominated by running, running and running. From a boy who narrowly escaped death during Partition (most of his family was not so lucky), to a juvenile delinquent who stole and outran the police, to a young Army recruit who ran his very first race to win special privileges for himself (a daily glass of milk). After that first race, Milkha Singh became an athlete by default. And what followed was the stuff legends are made of. In this remarkably candid autobiography, Milkha Singh shares the amazing highs of winning Indias first ever gold in athletics at the Commonwealth Games, the unbridled joy of being hailed as the Flying Sikh in Pakistan, as well as the shattering low of failure at the Olympics. Simple, yet ambitious; famous, yet grounded; temptations all around him, yet remaining celibate so he could focus on racing; a rich and beautiful girl who was desperate for him, yet fighting the world to marry his lady love, Nimmi, even as the on-field drama found its way into his personal life, Milkha was a man who defined his own destiny. And yet, for a man whose life was dominated by sports, he continues to remain disillusioned with the way sports is run. Powerful and gripping, The Race of My Life documents the journey of an impoverished refugee who rose to become one of the most towering figures in Indian sports.

First look at the title and the cover and one gets inspired from the younger and fitter Milkha Singh. His stance itself is an inspiration for young and old both to be determined about their goals. There is not much to talk about the blurb because it's a sneak peak of a legend's life a small introduction to his success unmatched. 

The story is about Milkha Singh and his struggles throughout his life to find his footing on a firm ground. The circumstances of his childhood and the way his life was torn apart by the partition and from there on how he became a determined and a hardworking soldier first and then a sprinter is story in itself. His rise to prominence from the ashes is a tale of valor, dedication, genuineness, humbleness & his principles which he never left behind for his goals. It's a story to inspire many. 

It won't be right to judge a book of a living legend called as " The Flying Sikh" of the country. His accolades and hard work in his field and towards his country are unspeakable and unmatched. His determination is the talk of the entire nation. His name still buzzes in the arena when our current lot represents our country at the various levels of athletics throughout the world. He along with other legends is a name to be remembered for entire eternity as no one can ever replace him or eclipse his achievements throughout their life. 

The book is a source of inspiration and a treasure of knowledge for each and everyone who have that grit and determination to work hard towards their goals. If you think big then only you make it big. Read it not as a story but for an idol whose life is the milestone for many in the present and coming generations too. Salute to the "Flying Sikh". 

RATINGS: 

4 OUT OF 5