Rukmini: Krishna's Wife by Saiswaroopa Iyer

I have read all books of Sai Swaroopa except Unsung Valour. Her books are smooth in narration but filled with women-centric heroism. I know I should have read Rukmini - Krishna's Wife earlier but unexpected health issues in the family delayed it. Well, no regrets, I finished the book during my summer vacation and I got really good company for two days. When I took the first dive into the book, I read around 90 pages in one and a half hours. It took me two more sittings to finish this book. 

The content is divided into 4 parts. Those who have read and researched deeply about Mahabharata might be aware of the story around Rukmini, the first and one of the eight principal wives of Krishna. So for them, this book is like "Rise and Fall" of mighty Yadava & Dwarka along with Mahabharata from Rukmini's point of view. 

We all pray Krishna for his role for mankind and his efforts to establish Dharma, especially his support for Pandavas. But rarely do we think that if Krishna was always available to these parties, what about his kingdom and family. Have we ever thought about what happened to Dwarika when Krishna was in the East with Arjuna for their conquest? Do we know how many times other kingdoms have attacked Dwarika when brothers were away? It was the role of Rukmini, she went through many of these struggles on Krishna's behalf. Read the book to know more.

My observations

1. The books has projected couple as more historical characters than mythological
2. Easy language usage and straight narration makes the book a fluid read
3. Touching the emotional and responsible side of Rukmini
4. Less imagination more facts.
5. Strict adherence to the storyline

A lovable short read one which can be finished in few sittings.

Links - Goodreads & Amazon

DEATH IN COLABA BAY: A Colonial Bombay Mystery by Ambika Subramanian

I love Dan Brown books but haven't read one in recent times. I adore Ashwin Sanghi but have listened to his latest release instead of reading, one of the main reasons is length. You need to read almost 400-600 pages long book to enjoy a mystery thriller written for mature age reader. I have tried many short thrillers but rarely I found something as interesting as "Death In Colaba Bay: A Colonial Bombay Mystery" by Ambika Subramanian. 

This 140+ page books can be your best companion due to following reason

1. It will take you to the historical era of the late 1890s.
2. It will give you a story based on historic Bombay culture and city 
3. Story filled with twists and turns
4. Not a shallow crime sequences but a well-planned theme

The Sherlock Holmes of our story are Tara and Arun. Tara is a young widow who wanted to help young girls pursue education in modern schools. But recent kidnappings of young girls from school posed a huge threat. Whereas Arun found something similar in recent cases which reminded him of a few previous incidents/crimes. Things became more challenging and problematic when one of the kidnapped girls was found dead. And just like other murder mysteries race against time started ticking.

The story writing is smooth and fast-paced. You will get a good grip within 15 minutes of staring at the book and then it will become un-put-able. Languages usage is simple and can cater larger reading audience. You can read this book in 2-3 sittings. My concerns are:

• Less importance on strong character building
• Lesser exploration of cultural era

Overall 4 out 5 to this book.

Book links - Goodreads & Amazon

Five Reasons Why One Should Read - Rajinikanth a Life by Vaasanthi

Your taste needs to be special to read & enjoy biographies. Otherwise, you have to wait for special occasions it is about the character you follow or from the field of your interest. From time to time you may find some inspirational biographies which are adored by the larger group. Rajinikanth a Life by Vaasanthi is one such book. 

Five of my favorite reasons why one should read this book

1. Though the book is a biography, it is written as a story.
2. The story of a superstar covered in this book is an inspirational one.
3. Simple and fluid writing style makes the book the lightest read.
4. Language usage is simple and caters larger population.
5. The book not just covers the life of Rajnikanth sir, but the social and economical aspects of the southern states of India.

Coming to the content of the book, it started from the childhood of Shivaji a.k.a. Rajanikant sir. It shows his struggle throughout his childhood and his relationship with his brother & sister-in-law, his liking for stage, and theatrics. Then comes the portion of his life as conductor and side by side theater performances. Then comes the portion which I liked the most. It is the section explaining social, emotional factors which had helped Rajinikanth to get a fan following, even though till his entry Tamil film industry was majorly dominated by actors with a fair complexion. The author has a deep understanding of the industry and social scenarios of Tamilnadu which is prevalent in her writing. The remaining portion might be more common because that covers his life after he became a known celebrity & later superstar.

One can get much eye-opening Information not only about the film industry but about the whole culture through this book. A must-read for movie buffs. 

I can give 4.5 out of 5 stars to this information as well as an entertaining read.

Book links - Amazon and Goodreads 

Fitness Habits: Breaking the Barriers to Fitness by Amaresh Ojha, Subhra Moitra

There are millions of people who want to be fit and slim. And they all wanted to cultivate healthy habits. We all know that if you make a habit, it will last longer. But activities become a habit when one does it regularly. People who give advice may talk about habits and their benefits. But how to cultivate a habit that too also fitness-based is a bigger question.

The book is divided into 8 chapters. The book starts with the topic of why don't we find exercise as easy as other activities. The next two chapters cover how to convert fitness into a habit and how long efforts are needed to convert an activity into a habit. The last four chapters cover benefits and other important facts about fitness habits. 

The book is filled with many motivational quotes. The one that changed my view the most is "Fitness is a lifestyle to be lived, not a goal to be reached." The book is a short read but filled with proper exercises, theories, pointers, etc. The writing is simple and engaging. Most of the topics were explained with at least 1-2 real-life examples. The language is kept simple for readers to enjoy and cope with the content. You may need a marker while reading this book so that you can easily revisit points while implementing them.

The book deserves 4 out of 5 for sure.

Book links - Goodreads & Amazon

The Oracle Of Karuthupuzha: A Novel by Manu Bhattathiri

Three reasons why I selected "The Oracle of Karuthupuzha" by Manu Bhattathiri

1. Attractive cover design.

2. Interesting plot description given in the blurb

3. Story based on the local culture of Kerala

The book presents a unique plot. The protagonist of our story is Sasaru, the girl portrayed on the cover picture, the girl in yellow with devious laughter. The story goes like this Sasaru's family was very poor, her father was a milkman, struggling to meet days end. Their life changed when Sasaru was possessed by a demon god. The personality that was possessing Sasaru was known as Chaathan in their locality. This incident brought the opportunist mindset of Nareshan (Sasaru's father) out. He wanted to take benefit of this opportunity by earning quick bucks by making goddess out of his daughter. The situation was not as simple. Things would turn out more than just opportunity. Read the book to know more.

The cover depicts the first possession of Sasaru, and just like the cover picture you will feel like you are watching the story on tv while reading the book.

This is my second read based on local Kerala village life, the first one was Cliffhanger, and just like that book, Karuthupuzha also gives a real-life picture of the local culture. The book is a journey rather than a destination. I loved the way things were described in the book. Though the book is just 300 pages long, you will feel that you have taken a long ride. The pace of the story is medium. Writing is intriguing even though a little bit slow at certain points. Choice of the word is simple, and easy English makes the book a smooth read. The book also delivers a social message. It wonderfully shows how people are ready to earn extra money in name of faith. 

An enjoyable read, deserving 4.5 out of 5.

Book links - Amazon & Goodreads