Mohini: The Enchantress by Anuja Chandramouli - a Book Review

Anuja Chandramouli is one of my favorite Indian authors in the mythology genre. She is also in my list of favorite 5 Indian female authors. Her books belong to a completely different league. You need to develop patience and taste to enjoy her books. I never take her books in haste, and that's the reason I usually come back somewhat late with a review of her books. Her last book I read was "Muhammad Bin Tughlaq" that book has shown a neutral face of a king who was known as a tyrant.

Around 2 months back, I saw Anuja's post about her latest mythological book that also has an LGBT touch, and then came cover release. I was completely enamored by the cover design. I wanted to read the book, and my luck was in my favor. I was provided the book in exchange for an honest review. 

I knew a limited portion of Mohini Avatara's story. I was aware of Samudramanthan and about the lord Ayyapa being the son of Shiva & Mohini. But this book opened other stories in front of me that I was not aware of. It takes us through the curse of Rishi Brighu due to which Lord Vishnu had to take incarnation in female form. It also covers other stories connected with the Mohini avatar. Though being the incarnation of a male god, the book shows Mohini's independent female emotions. 

Anuja's choice of words makes you fall in love with literature. If you want to challenge your vocabulary, I strongly recommend you Anuja's books.

As usual, storytelling is fluid, almost poetic. But that has affected pace in some places, where the pace became medium to slow. Maybe many of you knew all stories covered in the book, but Anuja's style of narration is the real beauty. One more thing you need to keep in mind when you select this book, you need to develop taste for Anuja's style.

Overall I will give 4 out 5 to the book.

Book links - Goodreads and Amazon

Book Review - Madhuleena: a novel by Govind Sharma

I have read most of the books by Govind Sharma. His stories are usually simple with fluid pace. You can read his books on your short journey or trip. When I saw his upcoming book, I pre-ordered it. The book reached me almost after 20 days. Unfortunately, it took me almost 10 days to take the book in hand but I finished in 2-3 sittings.

The protagonist of our story is Aakash. Aakash is shown as a young man who had been to a juvenile home but wanted to have a normal life. But things didn't go smoothly, he was framed in a bank robbery. Our story started with Aakash running away from the police. He was desperate to go away from the small town Rajapur so that police wouldn't catch him. He almost left the town (almost). On that last day, he met a girl named Madhuleena. You may call it love-at-first-sight or infatuation, but he came back. He took the help of two of his friends and arranged his hideout in Rajapur. He befriended Madhuleena also. But little did he knew about the case he was entangled in. Read the book to know more.

As usual, Govind has maintained his fast-paced storytelling. His way of sticking to the story keeps you reading books. The word choice and sentence framing make the book an ideal choice for beginners. Govind may want to have the cover matching character of Madhuleena but the girl on the cover page looks way too young to suit the said character.

I am giving 3.5 out of 5 to this book.

Book links - Goodreads & Amazon

Boons Curses: Legends of the Mythological Mother by Yugal Joshi

I have read many books based on mythology and my thirst for the same is still strong. Every book I read in this genre brings a new piece of information. Just a week back I read the book "Arjuna - Journey to the heaven ends in hell" and now it's the turn for "Boons Curses: Legends of the Mythological Mother"

by Yugal Joshi. Things that made me select this book.

1. Attractive cover

2. The relevance of title and cover

3. Mythology Genre

4. Perspective of Kunti

Till now I have read more than 20-30 perspectives or points of view from which Mahabharata was portrayed. And in those narrations, I have hardly found a version where Kunti was shown as innocent or a person without higher hopes. She was shown as a shrewd and a calculation woman. She was shown as a person with a determination of instilling her son as a monarch. Her desires made her took some dubious decisions. Many of us knew these dark facts, whether we accept it or not. Let's not go into that discussion. 

After the war when Kunti had introspected the outcomes, she found them very costly. She wanted to discuss her confusion with someone and who could be a better person than Krishna. The book contains a conversation between Kunti and Krishna. Very patiently and with thorough examples, Krishna had attempted to give answers to all questions of Kunti. His answers are not just theosophical or conceptual in nature. He has taken the proper support of other mothers who had been through tough times. And that's why the book subtitle is "Legend of mythological mothers"

Yugal has used references from various stories. You might be knowing many of these stories, but the difference is stark from normal narration we have heard or read. Yugal has focused more on the mother's role in those stories be it Diti-Aditi, Ruma-Tara, or Kunti-Gandhari. Each story shows why they have made some difficult choices. 

I found the book refreshing, as it brought around half novel stories or narrations to me. The language is easy for a fast read. The pace is fast but the grip on the story and conversation between Kunti Krishna continues. I have thoroughly enjoyed the book.

I will give 4 out of 5 to this wonderful book.

Book links - Goodreads & Amazon

ARJUNA : Journey towards Heaven, Ending in Hell - A book review

I am a great fan of the Mythology genre. Those who follow our reviews know this fact, and even if you are new, you may check categories, maximum books fall under the mythology category. The number went so high we have further split it into two subcategories Ramayana & Mahabharata. So when I received an offer of a review copy in exchange for an honest review of "Shree Arjuna" I said yes. Another reason for the selection of the book was my discomfort for the question of why Pandavas went to hell and why Kauravas went to heaven. I always want to know more reasoning behind it, not just one explanation.

I am not aware of what are authors view of the cover. Butt let me share what I gathered from the design. The cover photo shows Arjuna's bloodied hand with his bow, Ghandiva. If you look closely you will also find a cloth (I assume Saari) in his hand, and the cloth is not his own. I assume this depicts his intention to stop disrobing Draupadi's Saari which was linked with one of the weakest moments for Pandavas. Looking at the circumstances of Arjuna at the beginning of the book, the cover picture portrays his confusion. 

Let's go to the plot, as the subtitle mentioned, when Arjuna, the mighty warrior, who followed all pieces of advice of his mother, elder brother, Shri Krishna, and fought many wars on the name of Dharma was expecting a grand entry in heavens. Instead, he was in front of the doors of Hell, and that too alone. He wished that if he went to hell, at least he would have company. That loneliness mixed with confusion made him introspected his life and all characters associated with him. 

The story is more of his remembrance. These events are part sequential and part random which seems obvious. Because hardly people retrospect in the same order, they try to courier a few events more relatable than others. The same happened with Arjuna. Few points that brought out very sharply to us

1. Arjuna respected Duryodhana's more than Yudhishthira. He found Duryodhana a better brother and a better friend. 

2. Arjuna respected Karna. He envied Karna of many things.

3. Though considered eunuch, Shikhandin was a very sharp mind, more dangerous than Ghandhar Naresh

4. The only mole as per Arjuna in Kaurava brothers was Duhshashana, he was shown, drunkard, and drug addict.

5. Arjuna regretted and felt guilty of giving more priorities to his main wives and Abhimanyu only.

There are many more character-specific traits that Arjuna observed in his life's span. Read the book to know more.

The writing is simple yet engaging. The randomness with a storyline keeps you interested till the last page. Each chapter brings a good drawing of characters/incidents. The content is appropriate and good for beginners as well.

I think the book deserves 4.25 out of 5. 

Book links - Goodreads and Amazon

Another Story by themarsbeing - a Poetry Book Review

Though I use poetry as an escape from my emotions, this is the first that I am reading a poetry book. And surprisingly, each and every word is written in this book has hit home. It took me a long time to read this book as I have to stop after reading each poem to process it cause the writing is so deep and emotional. The poems written in this book has real, pure, unfiltered, dark emotions. All the emotions that people generally hide from others and yet it's written so beautifully and recklessly. I am saying it again I had to take a break after reading each poem, as for me the words felt like staring into a mirror.

The book contains a lot of poems about suicide, heartbreaks, depression, and mental illness in general. So at any point of time in your life, if you have suffered through any mental illness, you'll be able to connect to most of the poems.

In my opinion books like this should exist more, just to start a conversation about mental health causes in some parts of our life. Everyone has gone through difficult times which affects our mental health. And especially in India, because mental problems and discussions on the same considered taboo, nobody talks about it. Books like this can at least start a conversation about it and at the same time provides a way to escape the chaos as well.

If talking about the structure and rhyming some of the poems could have done better in that department but the emotional story behind the poem reciprocates for that.

I liked all the poems in the book but some of the poems which I liked and I relate to more are Maze, End of the story, Impulse, Dream scrapes, Anxious mind.

I think the book deserves 4 out 5.

Book links - Goodreads & Amazon