Thursday, September 29, 2016

Book Review: Metro Diaries 2 by Namrata



Image result for metro diaries 2 namrata


Finished reading Metro Diaries 2 by Namrata

The book says, "Give life another chance. Laugh a little longer. let go of your past. Hold onto what you love. In short LIVE rather than just exist!"

Metro Diaries 2 is a collection of 20 life stories. The book cover reflects the theme beautifully. That life is a journey and an enthusiastic storyteller. The last story of this book, "The Last Goodbye" is the perfect example of this fact.

'Not all journeys of life take you somewhere, some are meant to mislead so that you know what the right path is!' I loved this thoughtful quotation from the story 'Labour of Love'

Talking about my favourites - I really liked "Magpie of Memories" where Cara, a confused little girl explores her sexuality (and finally finds the destination). Namrata has expressed it beautifully. Then, two stories 'Stain of Love' and 'A Pinch of Love' are short, simple but really beautiful that speak about common yet special relationships. "The Filch" is about friendship and betrayal, and this one is crisp and smartly written. A story with an interesting twist - Veil Thy Love - tells about a very different kind of love, and it left me pleasantly surprised.

When it comes to expressing emotions, Namrata is brilliant. And, the stories here reflect that!

Writing is good, but I have three problems. First, careless editing. I hope it gets rectified and the stories would be more polished then. Second, sometimes it feels more telling than showing. I like stories to be explored through writing and dialogues. In some stories, I missed that. And finally, the voice of the characters. They sound almost same. In other words, they sound like author's expression. But, it is just about preferences, and maybe, it's just me.

Overall, it was a nice, emotional and easy read. Easy because stories are short and make a quick read. If you like short life stories, you will like it. If you have read Namrata before, you will like it. If you haven't, then do read it. You will like it. :)

I received this book from BookReviews.in for an unbiased review.




Sunday, September 25, 2016

The Feeling of Love







The Feeling of love
Crisp like misty daybreak, warm
Like morning sunshine.

Roseate hues of dawn
Reflect love, warmth of sunshine
Kisses tender dew!


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                           Haiku My Heart





Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Book Review: Anya's Lyric by Nikhil Kumar





Finished reading Anya's Lyric by Nikhil Kumar. It was a thoughtful, different and engaging read, but for me it was a little difficult too. Why difficult? I'll tell you but before that let's talk about the book.

First of all, the cover of Anya's Lyric is very attractive. The title is intriguing.

The author opens the story wisely, with this line:

"I was born because of one man's inability to read." 

It hooks you completely!

Anya's lyric is different - story wise and format wise, and so is the main protagonist, Anya. This book tells about Anya's tough journey in a very different voice.

So, what's different? 

The book seems a collection of interlinked and (mostly) standalone short stories or you can say a collection of events that are related to Anya's life. The characters have no names - just identity. Characters are mentioned as "A woman with a mole on her left cheek" "A man with one hand" "The magician" "Ordinary man" etc. This is a style I haven't read before.

Why difficult?

This unconventional format confused me. Names are easier to remember than identities like "The strange man, woman with a mole on her left cheek...etc. Some chapters are randomly placed that affects the continuity of the story. At times, it was exciting but most of the times, I needed to pause and recall what had actually happened previously that is linked to this particular thing I was reading. It was annoying as it disrupted the flow of otherwise interesting story. Honestly, I had to concentrate to connect the dots.

The story is dark, thoughtful, unpredictable and engrossing. Reading this book can be a different experience for a reader. It was a nice read but definitely not a light read!


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



Monday, September 12, 2016

You Were Not Mine!?





Your blissful arrival
Smiles so precious
Shining eyes
Your touch so soothing
Anguish that melted with happiness
You sprinkled all around
You showered love,
Oh, so much love!
Overwhelmed with joy and fulfillment
I didn't know you were not mine
Until they told me....
When you said the final goodbye!



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                                    The Tuesday Platform

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Of Favoritism and Nepotism: Guest Post by Namrata





Namrata is the author of three books (Metro Diaries, To Love And Be Loved, and recently released Metro Diaries 2), and contributing author of several anthologies. She is a very active blogger and write wonderful reviews @ Reviews And Musings.

Today, she is a very special guest on my blog and shares something that is close to her heart. So, here it goes!


As a reviewer I come across many instances when I am asked, “Please recommend a good read.” Though it does sound very flattering for me this question in itself is a bit unnerving.

For me reading is a very personal thing to an extent that I am very possessive about my books. When someone asks me this my first reaction is that of surprise and then my mind starts analyzing. What do I recommend now, does she seem to be someone who would like romance? What if I recommend something and she finds it too dumb for her taste, will it make her judge me based on that and worse will she judge my reviews as well? *Gulp* that is scary!

I try to ask politely, “Any specific genre that you really enjoy reading!” I want to tread on a safe path and not overturn the whole basket of choicest expletives on me and my books. “Ah! I read everything. You just give me some names and I will get them.”

To be honest such readers are risky because they don’t know what they like they read everything and anything. They are someone who go by the most read books and best sellers list to decide their buy-of-the-month. And here there is me, who loves to go through book shops painstakingly for hours together. Sometimes crunching on my knees to catch sight of that little brown book on the last shelf just because its title looks alluring. For me finding a good book is like unearthing a treasure while this person here is right now treating a book like a commodity on the shelves of a super market store which can be picked in a random moment without much thought behind it. Such people do scare me.

As a reviewer I do have the privilege of getting some amazing books to read but I do have my personal choices when it comes to my personal library. When I am reading them it is like having a conversation with an old friend, they trigger my senses and awaken the sleeping muse in my tiny brain. Like I always say the perks of being a voracious reader and a writer is you are never alone. In your mind you are always having a party with your fictitious character.

And here we have this lovely lady who wants to read a book because,“Everyone is talking about it at my work place and I so don’t want to sound dumb or out of place in the conversation. I want to add my own opinion there and nod in agreement. “Somehow to me talking about books comes naturally and I have no qualms in accepting that I don’t enjoy reading a particular author who otherwise is very famous. It’s a personal choice and it no way defines me as a person.

Yes I love reading and talking about books but I don’t enjoy talking about them for the sake of it all. They are my first love. When you talk about your love you do get starry eyed and cannot stand someone talk anything against it right? So, for the next time we meet can we just skip this topic of favoritism and nepotism…. please?

So good to have you here, Namrata! Thanks for your time. 



Thursday, September 1, 2016

Metro Diaries 2 by Namrata. Cover and Quotes.


Life is a great teacher and an enthusiastic storyteller! It carries several stories with various shades, and unveils them every single day. You may get it or miss it. It depends on how skillful listener and observer you are.

Here, I am talking about Metro Diaries 2: A collection of 20 Life Stories by Namrata

Namrata is an eminent writer and editor, blogger and book reviewer. So, she understands books and writing really well.

As this book releases today, I am sharing the cover and some quotations from the book.



The cover is intriguing, isn't it? It reflects the glimpses of real life.

Some quotations from Metro Diaries 2

"You are enough in everything and anything you do in this world. Others are here to serve as a distraction so that they reach their goals before yours and become winners."

"Life they say is a like a jigsaw puzzle and we are all like those pieces trying to find where we fit in."

"At times in life we always see what we are being shown and not what lies behind that cloak of disguise. We believe all that comes our way without doubting that there could be a trick or maybe just a hallucination."

"I always felt I knew what I wanted in life. But today I realized how wrong I was. I was chasing mirages as the reality kept going away from me and now I am left with nothing in hand – Rags to Riches"

Namrata expresses emotions and insights beautifully!

You can get her book HERE.

Also, she is coming as a guest blogger on my blog with a very interesting article that's close to her heart. So, watch this space.