Book Review: Beyond Forever...in Love! by Kiran Joshi

Beyond Forever…in Love! is a light romantic fiction by first time author Kiran Joshi (Pustak Mahal). I read some nice reviews and decided to read this book when the author approached me for the review.

Kamna is a physiotherapist, who eventually realizes that she is in a wrong profession and in a totally wrong relationship. Not sure about her career, she opts for an MBA and shifts to a different city, Mumbai. While she is enjoying her life and studies with her new friends, she meets her old and very handsome patient Varun and they gradually start floating in the ocean of love and excitement. 

When she thinks everything is going perfect, something happens and her life changes completely. One night and Varun is a changed man. Why? To get the answer, you'll have to read the book.

The start was funny. The author has tried to weave an interesting story with beautiful words, but I think the writing style is a little immature. I found a childlike excitement in the narration. There's a 'plastering the car with toilet paper' sequence which is very familiar. I have read the same sequence in some novel maybe in Almost Single (I don't remember exactly).

Frequent usage of 'blabbering' and 'hissed' was a little irritating. I mean, you can't write 'blabbered and hissed' in every normal dialogue. It is okay to write 'he/she said'.  There are two wrongly dated diary entries. The editor should have taken care of the grammatical and editing errors.

But the author has crafted the story well. The execution is nice that keeps you hooked. I would say, as a first time author, it's a decent attempt by Ms. Joshi. The book cover is nice. 

If you like reading easy and light fiction, this book can be a quick and interesting read for you, but it's not for those who seek literary crispness in a book.

I received this book from the author for an honest review.

Book Review: Beyond Forever...in Love! by Kiran Joshi

Movie Review: Khoobsurat (2014)

Comparing new Khoobsurat with the old one is unfair. Although, the basic concept is similar, they are totally different, and the main difference is that Rekha’s Khoobsurat was a family drama and this one is a love story. One of the easiest love stories without any conflict.

Lively and spirited physiotherapist Dr. Mili Chakravarthy (Sonam kapoor) works with IPL, She comes to a palace to treat Raja Shekhar Singh Rathore (Aamir Raza Hussain). Ranisa (Ratna Pathak Shah) is a strict disciplinarian. Mili notices that no one laughs and speaks to each other in the palace, and this palatial khoobsurti lacks the beauty of life. Later, she comes to know about the actual reason of this silent sadness stretched in the palace and tries to change it.

Well, this film looks royal and beautiful but the script (Writing) is very weak and has some glitches. It lacks interesting and funny content. I think, while sketching the character of Mili, the writer forgot the big difference between “Being lively” and “Being uncultured”.

The film deserves an equally strong male protagonist but it suffers from “I-am-the-producer-and-my-daughter/sister-won’t-let-anyone-perform.” syndrome.  Sonam Kapoor looks nice but her effort is quite evident and her dialogue delivery seems fabricated.  

Fawad Khan, who plays Prince Vikram Singh Rathore, is very good looking and stylish but he must gain some weight to get back to Humsafar look. He is a wonderful actor. His expressions are natural and endearing. His voice is attractive and his dialogue delivery is excellent! Though, his character is not as strong as it deserves to be, he has done a decent job.  

Kirron Kher as Mili’s mother is humourous but loud. AamirRaza Hussain is a nice actor and Ratna Pathak Shah’s acting is very balanced.

In the final scene, Fawad Khan’s or basically a royal Prince’s sudden transformation into an outspoken Punjabi is very absurd (though he is brilliant in that scene).

So, overall, it was an average watch. I somehow liked it for fawad Khan and Ratna Pathak (She reminded me of Sarabhai v/s Sarabhai) and I think team Khoobsurat owes a big thank you to Fawad Khan and timely telecast of Zindagi Gulzar Hai and Behadd.

Movie Review: Khoobsurat (2014)

Flash Fiction: Life!

I open my eyes in pin drop silence stretched in a dim lit room. It feels like I have slept for eternity. A strange stench hit my nostril and I feel suffocated.

I look around. A boy aged about ten or eleven, is lying on the bed next to me. He looks at me and smiles. He is exceptionally thin.

A woman is sleeping on a cushioned bench near his bed, snoring gently. My eyes travel a little left. There is another bench on which another woman is sleeping. She looks familiar. Very familiar! Oh, she is my mother. Suddenly, I feel a sharp pain and I moan. My mother stirs slightly but then turns still. My eyes shift to my left wrist which is heavily bandaged.

Heck! I am in the hospital! Memory of last night and then three days back reel in fast backward motion.

Abhinav clinging to a half clothed girl. His furious reaction when confronted.  Those insulting and abusive remarks in front of many people. That bitter break-up. My painful ponderings for two days, and finally giving up. I remember a shriek before my mind plunged into silent darkness.

The pain is getting unbearable and I try to stifle my scream, not wanting to disturb my mother. Or I don’t have the courage to face her. But I fail miserably. My mother gets up and she looks utterly worried, but she doesn’t say anything to me. She is angry. She is sad. She calls the nurse. I feel weak with guilt. Was being alive so difficult? I think.

Next morning doctors come to visit me and say I can be discharged tomorrow. I look at my mother closely in morning light. Her eyes are red and swollen. She looks old and tired.

It’s night again. My mother serves me dinner. She is still not talking to me. It’s painful than anything else. I yearn for her scolding. But, I think I deserve her silence. How can I even think of suicide, ignoring my hard-working single mother and younger sister? I am feeling ashamed.

“Do you want to read this?” The boy next to my bed (his name is Amol) asks, as I lay aimlessly after having a scanty meal.

I take that book from him and try to engross myself in the book. At the same time I am mustering courage to say a sorry to my mother.

As the clock hits midnight, few people enter our ward, singing loudly. “Happy birthday to you….”

It’s a little weird for a hospital ward but I somehow like this liveliness.

After a while, he comes to me with a box full of chocolates. “It’s my birthday.” He says. I take a chocolate and wish him.

“What do you want as a birthday gift?” I ask affectionately, suddenly feeling rejuvenated.

“I want something badly, but I know you can’t give me that.” He says.

“What’s that?”

“Life!”

Flash Fiction: Life!

Book Review: Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella

So, here's the new book in the famous Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella! It's called Shopaholic to the Stars

Rebecca aka Becky Brandon is dreaming big, well very big. She comes to LA with her husband Luke and daughter Minnie, for few days (though she doesn't want to return ever!). 

She wants to make new friends in Minnie's school but there she meets her old enemy, Alicia (aka Alicia bitch long legs) who is very popular among other moms. Her friendship mission is in danger.

She dreams to be friends with Hollywood star Sage Seymour (Hopes to have a coffee with her and she is almost there!) and wants to become a personal shopper and eventually her personal stylist.

How her desperate dreams and efforts land her (Or maybe her husband Luke) into conflict and trouble, this book tells all about that.

Well, I really like Sophie Kinsella books! I loved I’ve Got Your Number and really liked Twenties Girl. I almost finished these big fat books in two-three sittings, but, for me this book was not very smooth (As expected).

No doubt Sophie Kinsella makes me smile or even laugh. This book indeed has some humourous situations and funny moments. Becky's well being session in Golden Peace is really funny, but, I think the story is not strong enough to carry this big fat book entertainingly. Sometimes, I felt that the book book has been stretched with some very casual and prolonged situations and unnecessary dialogues.

I loved the cover! It's very apt.

The writing is as usual light and funny but it lacked the standard wit of Kinsella. It was a nice read but I was a little disappointed (I feel really bad while writing this). I feel this Shopaholic series should end now.

I got this book from Random House India for an unbiased review.

Book Review: Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella