Book Review - What The Fuq? by Rajan Bhonsle, Leading Sexologist of India

The idea of "What the Fuq" is really unique as sex education is the most ignored thing, especially in Indian society. In my opinion, there should be more books like this so when a person has some questions about certain things that they can't ask anybody else, a source like these books are really helpful. I would avoid turning to the internet which can lead to wrong information.

Book Blurb

What is it about sex, a universal biological function, that makes it so difficult to understand? As much a part of life as breathing and sleeping, it nevertheless remains a subject riddled with misconception and mystery. It binds as much as it destroys. Even today, social taboos prevent us from discussing sex openly, often leading to psycho-social and even medical conditions. 

Hence this book. Dr. Rajan Bhonsle, Senior Sex Therapist & Family Counsellor, Dr. Minnu Bhonsle, Senior Psychotherapist & Marriage Counsellor, and Dr. Aman Bhonsle, Psychosocial Analyst and Youth Coach, field a comprehensive collection of Frequently Unanswered Questions about sex. Years of research and insight into human behaviour and sexuality make this trans-generational book like none other, presented in a format that is balanced between the male and female perspectives. It offers scientific and complete answers to every possible question about the polarizing and often trivialized issue of human sexuality. 

This book is the one-stop, definitive reference for doctors, counsellors, parents, teachers, and individuals of all ages, orientations and faiths, and particularly those locked in silence. This is a book that binds us as human beings. 

This book answers the questions for parents about their child's sexuality, adolescent sexual dilemmas, queries of a teacher, questions of single man and woman, questions of man and woman in a relationship, about safe intercourse and how to achieve, and what not.

I think books like this are really important for our society. It's the lack of sex education that has lead to issues like rape, and books like this can alter that. Everything written in the book is in an easy and appropriate language. I didn't find anything vulgar in this book rather it was educational. The higher medical terminologies are not used in this book so everyone can read and understand the things written in this book.

Lastly, all I want to say if you have any questions about intercourse than you can find your answer in this book. And personally, suggest if you have questions about these things than books are more hardcore source than the internet as the internet can lead you in the wrong direction.

Ratings

1. Cover : - 3.5/5
2. Content : - 4/5
3. Concept : - 4/5
4. Overall : - 4/5

Book can be found at - Amazon Paperback & Amazon Kindle

Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Book Review "Ambling Indian Diaries" by Aina Rao

A vibrant, colourful and dramatic cover that literally depicts a typical day in an Indian city, and a colophon that promises quirky, thought provoking take on various social norms and issues, I set my expectations high for this book.

“Ambling Indian diaries” is a diary of a wimpy youngster living the corporate tumultuous millennial Indian life who resorts to dark humour, satire, hypocrisy to engage us with her (probably true) life experiences. 

Book Blurb

This unusual take on India offers a neverseen- before view of the country through the eyes of the Ambling Indian - a new generation aam aurat. This delicious mix of laughter, spice and nuggets of reflection to savour, delights the mind. We meet people just like us and experience hilarious happenings through the 31 stories woven together with one common thread - India's journey. Watch the Ambling Indian rewire the IIT syllabi, struggle with taxes, celebrate a pink valentine's day and plunge into the hoi polloi of Indian politics, journalism, modern offices, IIMs, weddings, cities and Bollywood. These intriguing stories cast Mangoman, Kofee Johar, Dr. Rupee Rajan and Runny Singh, among many other unforgettable characters. Challenges merge with the joy, agony and ecstacy of life in India. We are left bemused by this marvellous nation with its unique amalgamation of cultures and thought. Be prepared to go on a rollicking fun ride and discover India that puzzles, amuses, excites and provokes thought, through the mirror of the Ambling Indian Aina, an IIT and IIM graduate, who in the process, discovers an unknown side to herself too.

From the very start, the author makes us dive in into the chaotic streets of Bengaluru and her life as a reporter. She takes swipes from politicians(Mangoman Party) to Show business (Koffee Johar) and gives us a peek of what she does, what she actually thinks and the frustration in between. Using cryptic and pointing names such as Mr. Chatu(the sycophant), Runny Singh (her boyfriend with commitment issues) she makes sure that we get the character description from the name itself. Be it the reckless driving or the marital problems of her autorickshaw driver Jamal or social issues like scams, education the author explores it all using witty jibes throughout this book.

The book is written in first person narrative. At the start of every chapter there is a child like pencil drawing that gives us a hint of what’s to come. The chapters are short, sweet and non-related. The book is mostly written in a light vein but there are some dark parts which feel forced, misplaced and disconnected. There were a lot of favourite relatable moments especially from “Big and Bad Data” and “On Coaching Classes and IIT” to name a few.

Personally, I felt that the there was a huge potential in the content, but required a good editing. Every taken swing or satire pinches a bit but fails to drive the point home, as we move from one chapter to next. With more depth and clarity it would had actually had matched the expectations that the cover sets.

For Aina Rao’s maiden simple humorous banter, my overall rating would be 3/5.

Overall Verdict:- Simple, funny, relatable but could be better

Book can be found at Amazon & Flipkart

Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Fall of the Kurus - Book 1 - The Making of Bhishma by Kamesh Ramakrishna, a book review

For me, 

Have read Mahabharata where Pandavas were heroes, 

Have read Mahabharata where Suyodhana was a hero,

Have read Mahabharata where both parties were neutral,

Have read Mahabharata where everyone had divine powers,

Have read Mahabharata where everyone was a normal human being,

Have read Mahabharata where gods were aliens and Pandavas were alien-human breed.

So as given in forward, there are more than thousands of ways to tell Mahabharata, the important part is how the story unveils. In "The Making of Bhishma - Fall of the Kurus" author has shown or I would say started a journey of this epic with normal human race struggling for agriculture settlement and problems related to that.

Book Blurb

The Making of Bhishma, portrays the world of Hastinapura as its rulers try to manage the crisis. It explores the impact of this conflict on the life of Devavrata (Bhishma), eldest son of Shantanu, ruler of Hastinapura. His mother had committed suicide since the Kavi Sangha's one-family-one-child policy has required her to sacrifice seven of her children. Subsequently, Devavrata is disinherited so Shantanu can marry Satyavati, who demans the Kavi Sangha policies not apply to her.

Before I start those who don't want to deviate from original/Vedic /mainstream Mahabharata stories, can simply ignore this book and skip our review. Because the author has taken a good level of independence and colored our favorite characters as per his imagination. For example, in our story, Devavrata Bhishma took a vow of celibacy and he never had a wife /affair. Wherein here the story starts with Amba having affair with Bhishma before he had taken the vow and Shikhandin was shown as Bhishma's son. So you can only imagine the level of freedom the author has taken to prepare his characters.

The principal war of Mahabharata is shown in this book as the difference between economic strategy. Bhishma in the capacity of three-time regency had used the expansion of Kuru borders into (mostly) Naga territory through exploitation. Dhritarashtra and (later on) Suyodhana supported his tactics. But Pandu and (later on) Yudhisthira believed in peace. So Yudhisthira wanted to stop expansion and would like to work hand in hand with Nagas. This fundamental economic/strategic difference along with bloodline issue led to break in bond and Kuru lineage. The story started with Bhishma in deathbed and Yudhisthira requested to tell him the history of how it all started. Bhishma hesitated initially, but memory started flooding in front of his eyes. Yudhisthira wanted to know events which have led the war situation. Surprisingly, when Bhishma thought of, the majority of his decisions had created the problems that generation of Yudhisthira & Suyodhana were facing. I don't want to kill or spoil your reading experience so not giving away much plot.

Undoubtedly a must read. One should at least give a try to imagine how would be real life of Mahabharata times if those people were a mere human. A sure shot page-turner, it won't make you feel that you have read a 500 pages-long book.

Ratings

1. Cover - 5/5
2. Characters - 4.5/5
3. Concept - 4.5/5
4. Content - 5/5
5. Overall - 4.75/5

Book can be found at - Amazon & Flipkart

Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

BookReview - The Mask Diaries by Abhinav Goel

I would like to thank Goodreads for arranging wonderful giveaways. Otherwise, I would have missed this wonderful book. Though Vishnu won "The Masked Diaries" by Abhinav Goel,  I asked him to let me review this book after checking its cover and blurb.

Book Blub

Struggling through a troubled and painful childhood, Sohrab is cursed with an enormous gift: the ability to read and influence the minds of those around him. Armed with this powerful knowledge, he embarks on a remarkable journey that takes him across the world. Though he finds immense success, he is forever torn between good and evil. Unable to find peace with his alter ego, Sohrab is destined to destroy all that he has created in his tumultuous life - fame, love and adulation. In a fascinating story that spans five decades and takes us from the foothills of the Himalayas to the dubious by-lanes of Paris and the mysterious yet hauntingly beautiful countryside in the Hungarian Urals, The Mask Diaries will make you confront your own masks, the ones that remain hidden beneath your smiles and tears.

In short words, if I talk about the story, the protagonist of the book Shohrab has a tortuous past. Troubles of his past had made him acquire the alter ego - the mask. In this book, the author has shown mask as a different entity living inside him. The letters between the mask and the protagonist were mind awakening. These letters were pretty interesting. The book made me think of myself, my personality, my alter ego.

If you're fishing for something interesting to read than this book will leave you dumbstruck and leave a thousand thoughts in your mind. If you like to read Paulo Cohelo books than you'll definitely love this one.

Taking about rating

1. Cover – 3.5/5
2. Title – 4/5
3. Concept – 4/5
4. Characters – 4/5
5. Overall – 4/5

Book can be found at Amazon & Flipkart

Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads