Chilli, Chicks and Heart Attacks.

Publisher -Westland

Publication Year -2013

ISBN-13 -9789381626887

ISBN-10 -938162688X

Number of Pages -320 Pages

About the Author - (Source : Internet)

Sanjaya Senanayake is one of the millions of South Asians who was born outside the revered continent and brought up in the West. In keeping with this inauspicious occidental origin, Sanjaya has spent his life rebelling against all that is South Asian. Indeed, despite his conservative parents pleadings to become a movie star, watch football and marry a bikini- clad blonde, he thumbed his nose at South Asian convention: Sanjaya is now a doctor who loves cricket and is married to a girl named Dilukshi.

Being a die-hard Grey’s Anatomy fan, I had a lot of expectations from our dear protagonist, Dr. Manju Mendis, a Sri Lankan living in Australia, and I can happily say, I have not been disappointed. Sanjaya clearly leaves no doubt from the very start, that this is no diary of a hospital intern. 

The first surprise that met me was the name Manjula. A very dear friend of my sister’s is named Manjula, and I was surprised to know that the story is about a guy, not a girl. With the desperation of hooking up with somebody, and making it big at Australia’s top public hospital, this story is one hell of a roller-coaster ride.

As many occasions, he finds himself amidst a series of ill-fated misadventures. I wouldn’t say I wasn’t perplexed at first, but the author has made a wonderful effort. It takes a lot of courage to put your words to life and I appreciate Sanjaya for it.  It can easily be called a year of hysterical madness for the protagonist.

The backdrop of being set in a medical background, was the main attraction for me. I have been watching Grey’s and Private Practice since years now, and I can almost tell you why is castor oil used to induce labour or that Dr. Addison Montgomery can perform surgery on an unborn child. The medical procedures described in the book felt almost real. The description of the characters is surreal and it will make you want to meet them in person.

Though the story might be a little predictable at places, you will anyhow enjoy reading it.

Beware! Of the most interesting sex scene description you might have ever read. Again, to each, his own. And, I didn’t know they had a ‘Celebrity Ward’ in hospitals. I’d definitely pay my respectful visits to Dr. Spyder ! He definitely seems worth it.

In the span of a year, Mendes has to learn how to confront fraudulent specialists, self-important clients, and an imperious set of immigrant relatives. Also, he must find time to sustain his fledgling relationships with patients, colleagues, celebrities, and most of all, a girl with a troubled past.

I’d rather call this book, The misadventures of an Intern.

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14 Hours - A Book Review.

Title : 14 Hours - An insider's account of the Taj Attack.

Author - Ankur Chawla

Publisher - Rupa Publications India

Genre - Personal Experience

ISBN - 9788129120656

Pages - 162

Rating - 4/5

About the Author [Source : Internet]

Ankur Chawla went to school in Delhi and then graduated from the Institute of Hotel Management, Shimla. He was selected as an operations management trainee with the Taj Group of Hotels. He has worked at different Taj properties, including the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, for almost five years. Ankur has, over the years, also played musical instruments such as the tabla and drums, participated in theatre, acted in documentaries and undertaken several public-speaking and marketing engagements. He currently holds a managerial position in the food and beverage department at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Delhi.

Summary

A stark and compelling narrative , this is the story of a man who battled immense fear and peril to emerge a survivor.

Ankur Chawla says ' Working in a hotel prepares you for many things, but not this. I could hardly agree more with him. 26 November 2008. Mumbai was terrorized to its core and  Ankur Chawla has given us the insider's account of those dreadful 14 hours in there. I did not want to judge this book like any other books that I read, simply because of the sheer soul Ankur has tried to put in. If he is anything, its brave for me. If I would have been in his place, I wouldn't have had the courage to re-live the trauma even after several years. I applaud him for the genuine effort. 

This book is a tribute to those who died in the attack and a salutation to the spirit of those who survived.

At times, when I closed my eyes, I could see the shady figures dancing around with rifles and the grey bagpack.

The story has been heard numerous times, in snippets, on various news channels and read on laudable newspapers, but what they could not provide was the first-hand account and the racing heartbeats of the people fighting their fates against this unfortunate mishappening inside the Taj.

About being totally honest, I do think the book had some glitches and grammatical errors, but of course writing a book, specially the one with these kinds of feelings attached can be really hard. Perhaps, maybe Ankur could have hired somebody to do a better job at it. Still, this does not affect my rating of the book and neither does the sentiment lose any of its original value.

It was a tragedy that we may never even wish upon our foes. I hope Ankur regains his 'before-incident' chirpy self, although we all know that is easier said than done. Mumbai had been terrorized and so was the rest of the country.

I can only wish peace.

My rating for this brave narrative would be 4/5.

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The Bankster - A Book Review.

Title: The Bankster

Author: Ravi Subramaniam

Publisher: Rupa Publications India

Genre: Fiction

ISBN: 9788129120489

Pages: 358

Rating: 4/5

About the Author (Source - Internet)

Ravi Subramanian an alumnus of IIM Bangalore, has spent two decades working his way up the ladder of power in the amazingly exciting and adrenaline-pumping world of global banks in India. It is but natural that his stories are set against the backdrop of the financial services industry. He lives in Mumbai with his wife Dharini and daughter Anusha. In 2008, he won the Golden Quill Readers Choice award for his debut novel, If God was a Banker. 

To know more about Ravi, visit www.ravisubramanian.in or email him at info@ ravisubramanian.in. To connect with him, log on to Facebook at www.facebook. com/authorravisubramanian or tweet to @subramanianravi.

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.

Bestselling author Ravi Subramanian, a master storyteller of financial crime and winner of the Golden Quill Readers Choice Award, returns with his most gripping thriller yet.

Summary

The book begins with three parallel stories and then in the mid-way is left with two stories. The parallel stories are that of Joseph Braganza in Angola, Greater Boston Global Bank (GB2) in Mumbai, and Krishna Memon in Devikulam, Kerala.

The author writes about the sad state of affairs of the rich trying to get richer through frauds. Like many other readers, what hit me the first time I saw the book, was its title. It isn’t the banker, it’s the bankster. The name itself has put in a lot of weight and suspense to the story.

GB2 is the main centre of the story, a reporter from TOI, the nuclear power plant story, many stories have been intertwined with each other and Ravi Subramaniam deserves a great round of applaud for it.

Infact, what isn’t clear until the end is what exactly is the crime and what has menon got to do with it ?

I won’t unfold the rest of the mystery here, In order to know more, buy the book from your nearest book stores, or online from Flipkart.com.

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The Krishna Key - A Book Review.

Book Summary of The Krishna Key

Five thousand years ago, there came to earth a magical being called Krishna, who brought about innumerable miracles for the good of mankind. Humanity despaired of its fate if the Blue God were to die but was reassured that he would return in a fresh avatar when needed in the eventual Dark Age—the Kaliyug.

About The Author (Source : Internet)

Ashwin Sanghi is one of the well known writers in the Indian literary scene, and an author of thriller fiction. He shot to fame through his first release, The Rozabal Line. His books are characterized by extensive research, and they're fast paced political or historical thrillers.

Ashwin is an entrepreneur by profession but writing historical fiction in the thriller genre is his passion and hobby. Ashwin was educated at the Cathedral & John ConnonSchool, Mumbai, and St Xavier's College, Mumbai. He holds a masters degree from Yale and is working towards a Ph.D. in Creative Writing. Ashwin lives in Mumbai with his wife, Anushika, and his son, Raghuvir.

My Review

Given the literary history of the author and his title of ‘Dan Brown of India’, my expectations from this book were high since the minute I signed up for it. This is my second book that relates itself to the great Indian Mythology, and that is a surprise in itself, because of my interest issues. But nonetheless, you haven’t lived enough until and unless you’ve explored all the flavours on life’s platter, and my taste buds are very cooperative.

Krishna Key is no doubt an intriguing read. Ahswin’s writing style will hold your interest right uptil the last page of the book, not to mention Dan Brown will always occupy one little corner of your mind, no matter how hard you try to concentrate. The way the final loose edges of the plot have been brought together into a thrilling conclusion is commendable. The amount of research that has gotten into the making of this book is worth giving a mention here. Pictures have also been provided that help the reader get a better perspective as o what all is going on.

Glimpses of a poor proof-reading can be seen in a few places if you read the book carefully. The story struggles to keep in place because these mistakes can be a big spoiler for some. Names of characters have been mixed up in a couple of places. The errors were simple and should have caught the much deserved attention of the writer’s or the publisher’s pen.

I may not give a very glowing recommendation to this book for you if you’re not a Dan Brown-thriller fan. I may as well end up calling this one as a work of fan fiction.

My Rating 

3/5

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Tamarind City - Where Modern India Began : A Book Review.

Title: Tamarind City – Where Modern India Began

Author: Bishwanath Ghosh

Publisher: Tranquebar, Westland Publishers

ISBN: 978-93-81626-33-7

Genre: Non-Fiction

Pages: 315

Source: Publisher

Rating: 4/5

'While in other big cities tradition stays mothballed in trunks, taken out only during festivals and weddings, tradition here is worn around the year'

This is how Bishwanath Ghosh has described India's Tamarind City in this adventure of a book. I am not much into Non-Fiction travel genre but thanks to BlogAdda, it might soon become a favorite. It may seem as just another book describing a busy city at first but when you stat getting the gist of it, you'll know it is much beyond that. The author has lived through every word written on the pages of this travelogue. Bishwanath Ghosh has explored the many known and unknown facts about the city, its history, the wide variety in the nature of the people, from ghosts to pictures of yesteryear's filmstar Rekha with her step sister. In short, this book is all that you thought it would be and much more. You might notice that the explanation and research is not very exhausting, fine details are mentioned but they do not interrupt your virtual tour of the city.

The marriage of tradition and technology is what defines this city in the exact words of the author. I'd rather say it is the love child of this knot.

Ghosh successfully displays a vivid range of emotions that this city might carry deep in its heart. He sometimes talks about it as a muse and sometimes as a lover. The modern and traditional aspects of the city have been highlighted very well by Ghosh without favoring any purposely. He also says that there are many misconceptions that burden the shoulders of this city, and many of them fail to possess any solid grounds favoring their truth.He has not forgotten to mention the fact that Chennai is one such metropolitan that is taking its time to evolve and grow. This book is a live portrait of what Chennai is all about for those who have never been to this part of our country's diversified culture. To put Chennai in a summary form, I would say, it is a city that educates, entertains, survives and thrives. The flowershops, temples, beaches and women drawing kolams outside their houses give it a mass appeal.

Not spoiling the book's raw appeal any further for you, I would strongly like to recommend this book to those who would like to know more  about this Tamarind City.

And at the end, I'd still rather call it Madras.

About the Author [Source : Internet]

Bishwanath Ghosh was born on 26 December 1970 in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, where he began his career as a journalist before moving to New Delhi to work with Press Trust of India and The Asian Age. In 2001 he relocated to Chennai where he spent seven years at The New Sunday Express and three at The Times of India. He is currently a deputy editor with The Hindu. In 2009 he wrote the bestselling travel book, Chai, Chai: Travels in Places Where You Stop But Never Get Off, also published by Tranquebar.

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I, Rama : Age of Seers : Book 1 - A Book review.

Title - I, Rama : Age of Seers : Book 1

Author - Ravi Venu
ISBN - 9780615582504
Language - English

Publisher - Cratus Media

Pages - 264

Price - Rs. 225

"There will be a time when men will fight among themselves in the name of God, when peace will fail; at that time a part of me will re-emerge."

“I, Rama, King of Ayodhya” – is a first person account of how the famed Hero monarch would narrate his tale, as viewed by him, his first hand view of the spectacular turn of events that would unfold themselves mysteriously, chronicling the path which immortalized his name, from a mere prince to the very epitome of manliness.

Ravi Venu has done an absolutely fabulous job with this opening volume of the trilogy "Age of Seers". I'd rather say it is a modern day take on the Ramayana - the epic. We've all grown up watching Ramayana and Mahabharata getting re-enacted on television, in case you enjoyed that part of your childhood, you will love Venu's efforts in this book. The prologue proudly rants about Rama in the late years of his life, narrating his extra-ordinary tale to his friends and his sons. It might seem like a futile effort at times, but when you finish reading this book, you'll get all your answers.

The two major highlights of the book are Vishwamitra and Kaikeyi. They have time and again proven that they had a big role to play in making this world a secure place for the human race. Unlike Ramayana, Kaikeyi has been shown as a warrior princess and her clarity and strength of mind is impeccable, whereas Vishwamitra's righteousness won him the title of 'Brahma-rishi' - The great Sage. One thing I can assure you of, is that this book is a well-researched combination of old day Ramayana and fiction but I must say, that it targets a limited audience.

As we move further in the book, the life of an adolescent Rama comes into being. Sita is also introduced here, their love and the kind of strength it held has been shown in a completely new light. It restores the reader's faith in undying love that can accomplish the world. Then the brother duo, Rama and Lakshamana are taught the skill of war, apart from the high morals that they have been imbibing since birth.

I would not spoil the fun for you by spilling any more beans. Go, pick up the book if you love contemporary mixed with a little fiction.

My rating - 3.5/5

About Ravi Venu - [Source : Internet]

Ravi Venugopal is a creative visionary and an entrepreneur. Ravi has been a part of several historical and science groups. After taken part in several Ramayana discussions and study for more than a decade on characters and looking at it from a holistic view has written this book keeping in view the acceptance factor of the new age audience of the Apple and Social Network Era.

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'The Devotion Of Suspect X' - A Book Review.

Title - The Devotion of Suspect X

Author - Keigo Higashino

Pages - 374

Price -   350

Genre - Crime fiction

Well, I must say, since I'm an ardent crime-mystery-suspense fiction fan, my expectations are always high, and Keigo Higashino delivered what was promised off this unputdownable thriller. Being a part of the Galileo detective series, it had to meet the expectation bar. The lives of the characters run along a tipsy topsy curve and soon enough, you don't know what to expect. Now thats what you want from a gripping tale, don't you ? Simple and easy choice of words has played a big role in making Keigo's book a nation-wide phenomenon in Japan. And I'm sure, India too will be smitten by it very soon, giving in to BlogAdda's initiative.

The main characters were Yasuko Hanaoka, her daughter Misato Hanaoka, their neighbor Tetsuya Ishigami and the neighbor's college mate, Manabu Yukawa. Detective Kusangi's wit deserves a special mention here. A lot of thought has been put by Keigo into the minute details of daily monotonous routines of regular people. You may find the portrayal a little repetitive but I promise you won't complain when you're through with the novel.

Being a high-school maths teacher, Ishigami's love for numbers is evidently spread throughout the book, and you can't help but notice his secret crush on Yasuko, a single mother who works at a box-lunch shop. Yasuko seems oblivious to all the attention showered upon her by Ishigami. One dreadful day, her abusive ex-husband Togashi plans to drop a surprise visit at her door-step and ends up dead under less than mysterious circumstances. Yasuko starts panicking and here enters the devoted neighbor, Ishigami. 

He ends up being the devoted suspect. The excitement levels have been maintained throughout your read of this book, and that is not even the amazing part. The best is yet to come, and by that I mean the killer twist stitched at the end. Manabu is an ex-classmate or rather college rival of Ishigami, and also assists Detective Kusangi, hence another angle. Ishigami is threatened by her addition to the investigative team. The best part about this book is that you feel like you've known the characters long enough to wish well for them. It plays with your mind, puts it to work, but thats a good thing, Eh ? I won't kill the suspense for you, so there, no spoilers for you mister ! 

And because I wanted to know more about Keigo Higashino and his work after being through with the book, I'm sure you would too, hence this link for you. The kind of connection that his characters form with you, will leave you wanting for more. After reading the last page, you will no more wonder why is 'The Devotion Of Suspect X' one of the few novels that have been translated to English.

My Rating for this book would be a generous 4/5. All smiles.

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'Down The Road' - A Book Review

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Evoked Déjà vu !!

Title: Down The Road

Edited by: Ahmed Faiyaz and Rohini Kejriwal

Publisher: Grey Oak Westland

Published: 2011

Pages: 225

Price: Rs. 195

Genre: Campus Fiction- Short Stories

Down The Road is an eclectic compilation of twenty eight campus tales by sixteen authors. Some writers, some bloggers and some even writing for the first time. A small bunch are still living their campus lives in different parts of the country right now and that made their stories a little extra niche above the others. The whole flavor of the book binds you and impatiently wants you to move to the next one in store. It couldn't have been titled more aptly. I finished with college last year and this book evoked waves of déjà vu for me.

Caffeinated long assignments, punishments, a look here, a smile there, jumping at the sight of food like you're kept starved at home, fighting, crying, laughing your brains out, breaking up, little sweet gestures and then patching up, bunking just because you feel like it today, that first porn video you accidently saw in your friend's phone, that first stolen kiss, ragging and getting ragged, dressing everyday like you're running to meet your biggest enemy, shopping all kind of crap, crushing over the disturbingly handsome programming professor, nudging him into a laughter, xeroxing notes, doodling little hearts all over his oh-so-pretty notebook during the lecture, studying a day before the sessionals, cheating, failing terms and still not letting them affect the next days plans, missing classes every friday to catch the latest, and not to forget, the lamest release, celebrating everybody's birthday with equal enthusiasm, you and your bff bitching evil and nasty things.


Heaven it was. Our very own.

Ahmed Faiyaz is a writer with substance and he has proved this time and again in this book. Its divided into sections for the reader to grasp its purpose more clearly. Although Knockout had a confused end for me but I praise Ahmed for the rest. But Paritosh Uttam stole the limelight for me. Sororicide was touching and showed that people may choose to show you one part of them but that doesn't mean they have nothing more to them. A young school teacher is handed a bunch of bratty kids to handle. Her awkward hands dangling by her side conveyed much more than Paritosh might have meant to. Although the books mentions that Between Friends has been repeated from Urban Shots but I don't see a valid justification there. The first section Attendance is Compulsory is more of a fun roller coaster which also contains the lovable Smells Like Home. Ira Trivedi's Rishi And Me was built on teenage betrayal and it turned out really well. I was sad and sorry for her characters. But then again, her second The Music Room was even better. Read this book for her if nothing else.

The unmistakable character description by all these wonderful authors was a high for me. The stories ranged from excellent to good to bad to boring but all in all I don't think I can complain. Remember Me ? is a mere promotion of Another Chance by Ahmed Faiyaz but then again he can't blamed for that. If, by God's grace, I get my work published someday, I know it in my bones that I'd promote myself shamelessly at any and every provided opportunity. The second section deals with much mature issues like Placements, Politics and College festivals. The Cafe With no Name was a mature innocent tale. It couldn't have been better.The Worm That Turned by Malathi Jaikumar steals the show in Lights Out. Fiction on Campus was not as good as it promised it to be.

All said and done, its a light coffee read and you won't regret picking it up.

My Rating: 3.5 on 5

You can buy it at Flipkart.com here.