Book Review: Graffiti by Joanie Pariera

I received this e-book from Writer's Melon for an honest review.

Graffiti by Joanie Pariera deals about complex relationships and emotions.

Rene sees some weird dreams and thinks her dreams have some meaning (now this was the biggest hook for me). Unexpected break-up with Agni has left her shattered. 

She meets Vipin who is depressed after his wife's death and blames himself for the accident. Then there is Mark who is inexplicably obsessed about Rene and spies on her. Then there is Upi and Hari and Kunal and Subbu and....

This is the biggest problem in this book. There are so many characters and the story seems scattered. For me, it was difficult to keep the track. The author introduces a new character in every chapter. The POV is confusing. Vipin's part is written in first person. Other characters in third person. I didn't get this idea.

I liked the cover! The 'dream' thing disappointed me as it doesn't make the story intriguing as I had expected. Characters and situations are not relatable, and they don't carry the story forward and sometimes seem unnecessary. However, I liked some friendly moments and conversations between Rene and Vipin. The author has expressed the agony of Vipin well.

Some nice reviews call this book hilarious. I didn't find it funny. I don't why it is called 'Sexocomedy'?

Overall, for me, it was not an enjoyable read even though the plot is interesting. I think, it could have been crisp and intriguing if handled and edited well. 

In writing, there is no safe zone: Guest Post by Adite Banerjie

Adite Banerjie is a writer. No Safe Zone, her recently released romantic thriller is getting nice reviews. Her screenplay has won first runner up prize in an international contest. Many congratulations, Adite.

Here, she is talking about writing, and switching from romance to thrillers. Welcome to my blog, Adite. The post is all yours.

Writing a new book is always an adventure—much like a journey to a dream destination.  It begins on a high note. The preparations are full of excitement. You plot and plan, find out as much as you can about the best places to visit, the routes to take, the things to pack. You are dreaming all the fun things you are going to do. You chart out your trip meticulously. And then the D-day arrives. You are off on your trip.  And then, reality bites. Real journeys always pan out a bit differently from the one that you had charted in your head. Even the most meticulously planned trip will throw up some unexpected twists and turns. But if you are a seasoned traveler you buckle up and enjoy the ride.

That sums up the process of writing a new book.  When an idea grabs you and won’t let go, you are flying high. For a while you are in uncharted territory, almost like driving down a new road, without a map or a compass, reveling in the wind in your hair and the sun on your face. Nothing can beat that tremendous rush of feeling. Like real life journeys, writing too needs a lot of planning and plotting. And that’s when the doubts begin to set in. You begin to opt for safety rather than taking those risks. Why go for something untried and untested? Why not stay in your comfort zone?

As a writer, romance has been my ‘comfort zone’. Exploring the highs and lows of relationships through fiction has perhaps come a little more easily to me than any other kind of fiction. On the other hand, I have always been an avid reader of thrillers. Adrenaline pumping action movies are as close to my heart as mushy romantic films. A good action plot has always appealed to me. The kind that has a compelling hook, draws you into the story and doesn’t let go. The ever-present danger. The tension between hope and fear, leading up to a high-octane finale. I wondered if I would be able to pull it off.

To make things a bit easy on myself—I guess you cannot totally discard your comfort zone :)--I decided to experiment with the genre of romantic suspense or romantic thriller.  And that’s how No Safe Zone was born.

One of the biggest challenges was to figure out the right balance of suspense and romance. It required a lot of drafts and many, many rewrites to get it right. And of course feedback from my editor and beta readers helped me to navigate my story without getting totally lost.

If there is one thing I learnt from the experiment it is this: in writing, there is no safe zone. All the planning will take you up to a certain point and then you have to simply dive in at the deep end and risk the consequences. Believe me, it can be one heck of a thrilling ride!

Book Review: 03:02 by Mainak Dhar

I got this book from Writer’s Melon for an honest review.

It was supposed to be a different read. 03:02 by Mainak Dhar (Westland Books) is a science/action fiction. It’s been long since I read any science fiction. I read some really nice reviews, and thought to give it a try. Recently, I have realized that it’s good to experiment with the genre. I have got some wonderful reading surprises!

Okay, coming back to this book. 

After celebrating his promotion till midnight, Aditya wakes up at 03:02 a.m. to find complete darkness, switched off mobile and not working fridge. Assuming it a normal power cut, he goes back to sleep. 7 in the morning, nothing has changed. Everything has stopped working even elevators and automobiles. 

Can this be considered as normal power cut? There’s definitely something serious! What went wrong? Who’s behind this, and why? Someone whose intention is definitely dangerous. 

The book is all about unfolding these mysteries, chasing the troubles and fighting with them.

Sounds intriguing? It does! And it is.

The book started off really well. I was eager to know what was this all about, thinking 'what next'. But, after some pages it becomes very slow and repetitive. It’s not uneventful. So many things happen but these things seem like a whirlwind. Whirling at the same place, going nowhere. And, this made my mind whirl with so many questions. Such stories need to be fast paced, but here, 150 pages and there is no lead, no cues.

The writing is good, but I didn’t think it’s very intelligent, especially in the first half (Or maybe I didn’t get that as several things go unexplained).

For example, nothing is working, but someone manages to start the generator, and the elevator starts working. Interestingly, no one in the nearby society is eager to know that how people of Aditya’s society have managed to do so! Just two days of power cut and everyone is just concerned about water and food supplies. Come on! We keep our kitchen stocked enough to manage for couple of days, don’t we?  We have gas cylinders to prepare foods. 

People  are looting and killing for food supplies (even guards of a politician!). There are several shops (not just electronically operated malls) where people can easily buy goods. They are thinking about fetching water from swimming pools! If generator can work, then why can’t motors work for water storage? A woman suggests to grow their own foods in the garden! And, Aditya feels that she is a genius! I mean really? No one is trying to approach the authorities to know what actually went wrong?

The author has tried to prove that everyone except Aditya is dumb. Everyone needs Aditya’s lecture to realize what’s wrong or right in this difficult situation (an elderly man is reading novel lighting his torch until Aditya lectures. A politician refuses to cooperate until someone lectures). Everyone is coming to Aditya’s society as if it was a refugee camp. I wondered why that person who started the generator was not trying to start another generator in the society nearby.

It was so disturbing. Sometimes, it seems like a moral/social story.

There’s no strong female character with prominent role, still I liked the character of Megha and the way her relationship with Aditya burgeons slowly.

As I said the writing is good. The plot/theme of the book is unique. It is packed with action and insights. So if you like action thrillers/science fiction, (It didn’t give me the feel of science fiction though) you may like it. Going by the wonderful reviews, you should try this! For me, it was a confusing read (And the confusion killed the excitement), But that's just me.

Book Review: Metro Diaries 2 by 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.

The Feeling of Love

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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

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.

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

Of Favoritism and Nepotism: Guest Post by Namrata

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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. 

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.