Book Review - 54 Reasons Why Parents Suck! and Phew Swati & Swaraa Lodha

Actually, we select our set of review copies on our own. "54 Reasons Why Parents Suck! and Phew" by Dr. Swati Lodha and Swaraa Lodha was selected by Vishnu. But when I checked his book received the post on Instagram, I pinged him to give me chance to review the book. Though he wanted to read it himself, he gave it to me.

Book Blurb

The book is a tongue in cheek take on things parents should and should not do. It talks about various beliefs, behaviour and biases held by most parents that make them annoying and difficult. So, all you parents out there—be a good sport, pick up this book and see for yourself the heart of a teenager. 54 Reasons Why Parents Suck and Phew! will leave you with one big reason to understand your child, all over again.

Coming to my review part, I picked up this book because of its really interesting title "54 Reasons Why Parents Suck". I am a millennial, and my views about everything differ from my parent's view; which creates a hell lot of conflict between us. And I thought it's the story of every millennial so it was obvious for me to pick up this book. I found that the book can give good insights to both the party.

The book is really well written with day to day examples. It covers topics like

• What children try to say to parents
• Things parents sometimes don't understand about a modern generation
• How parents try to be cool but end up embarrassing the child

What I really found interesting was that the book was written by a mother-daughter duo. So it is obvious that you will get inputs from both sides. You will get both of their views. It also narrates the dos and donts for parents as well as a child.

I recommend this book to every teenager and every parent trying to figure out what goes wrong and why.

Ratings

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

The book can be found at Amazon and Flipkart

Reviews from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Book Review - Seductive Affair by Rishabh Puri

The moment I laid my eyes upon "Seductive Affair" by Rishabh Puri I made up my mind to read it. I was so into it that I have finished this book in just 2 days.

Book Blurb

Prisha Khatri is a regular college graduate, focused on her career, desperate to finally move out of her parents’ house… and freshly dumped by her successful fiancé. When she lands a job at a prestigious media house, she’s glad to have something to take her mind off her heartbreak.

What she doesn’t expect is to be landed on a business trip with a famously fiery reporter Rajesh Lagheri. He’s travelling to a business conference for a story, and doesn’t seem impressed by her involvement. But as soon as they’re out of the office, things change, and it becomes clear that there is more to Rajesh’s trip than meets the eye. 

As Prisha is drawn into the story he’s trying to hide from their editor, their hunt for the story grows more intense, and she finds herself growing closer to Rajesh. As their chemistry threatens to overwhelm them and Prisha is pulled deeper into the Seductive Affair, she must decide what matters most to her – matters of the head, or of the heart.

The story is basically about forbidden love of Parish and Rajesh. Parish had a bad breakup. She was in a new job where she met a fellow journalist Rajesh. Rajesh was an overly attractive handsome hunk, with whom Parish was deeply attracted. They both went to trip for work together where all the inevitable things happened.

This book has a really goofy and young adult book kinda vibes. Being a young adult I possibly read every love story, so how can I not read this one. And it had not disappointed me

This book has everything to make a love story legendary. Past tragedy, Romance, a little bit of girl being badass, a crazily handsome hero and a cherry on the cake, a fairytale ending.

I recommend this book to every teenager and young adult searching for love stories to read, the older readers won't like it as much as the millennials but all and all its a good love story.

Ratings

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

The book can be found at Amazon and Flipkart

Reviews from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Book Review - The Friend by Teresa Driscoll

I usually ask others to read books from different countries and origins. But my own practice lacks that determination. I would try to avoid foreign authors may be due to my comfort zone with Indian authors. Not just that once in a while when I take books of the said category my mind went through a hell lot of tantrums. It makes me feel "I am not getting it Vishnu. Don't read more". But then my heart pursue it till my mind able to cope up with narration style. "The Friend" by Teresa Driscoll was one such experience for me. Until I reached the milestone of 70 pages my mind has tried all possible distraction to leave the book but I persisted.

Book Blurb

On a train with her husband, miles from home and their four-year-old son, Ben, Sophie receives a chilling phone call. Two boys are in hospital after a tragic accident. One of them is Ben.

She thought she could trust Emma, her new friend, to look after her little boy. After all, Emma’s a kindred spirit—someone Sophie was sure she could bare her soul to, despite the village rumours. But Sophie can’t shake the feeling that she’s made an unforgivable mistake and now her whole family is in danger.

Because how well does she know Emma, really? Should she have trusted her at all?

Time is running out. Powerless to help her child, still hours from home, Sophie is about to discover the truth. And her life will never be the same.

The friend is the story of a countryside town called Tedbury. The protagonist of our story is Sophie. The author has divided suspense into two parallels. In current time Sophie got a call that her son along with another kid was admitted to the hospital. She was on the train when she received the news. During the long train journey, she recalled how she ended up in this situation. So what she recalled? There comes our mysterious character called Emma. A new lady in Tedbury who became Sophie's best friend from the day one. The lady whom disliked by his husband and closed friends but she didn't listen to. It is her (Emma's) past that is bothering current of Sophies's life. A suspense that makes you go through the book.

Coming to writing style, it is a completely different experience for me. I am not kidding when I said I struggle to overcome the benchmark of 70 pages. the book is intermingled with past-present, character-emotion, story-fillers. The books not for beginners. You need to read it with full concentration. Coming to language portion, it is easy to follow. Characterization is brilliant and plots it also excellent. Only weak nerve it the narration style, if you can catch it you will love the book. I fumble for the first 3rd and that has affected my experience overall.

Talking about ratings

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

The book can be found at Amazon and Flipkart

Reviews from other readers can be found at GoodReads

We would like to thank Writers'Melon for providing us the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Meet Kartik & Ravi - Discussion about their latest book - DareDreamers

Welcome back, Kartik and Ravi you both on our blog. Last time we had a discussion for "The Quest of Sparrows", we had wonderful insights about you and the book. So today we met again for another book "DareDreamers: which is published/released just 2 weeks back. Before we proceed to questions and answers we would like to congratulate you two to be able to crack back-to-back two books' publication with India's one of the leading publishing house (Rupa Books). For our readers who have not checked Ravi & Kartik's book posts follow the links

• The Quest of Sparrows - Review Link
• The Quest of Sparrows - Interview Link
• DareDreamers - Review Link

We will skip basic questions which were covered in the previous interview this time as our readers can always back to the previous post. Let's start with your synergy.

1) I have not read many books by multiple authors, so I am not sure how they cope up with writing. Can you tell us how did you brew idea and then make a story around it as a team? I mean to say is it like one of you is good with words and another with ideas? Do share it with us.

Kartik: We both like walking and walking together is where the genesis of most of our ideas happen. Five years ago, I was struggling with worries about leaving my investment banking job thinking if I had abandoned the race midway or if I had chickened out. We were discussing how I ended up doing investment banking and wasn't sure if it was a true calling. That's when we realized that there's a huge parallel in dad's life when he quit his cushy government job back in the day. It was almost like history was repeating itself and it felt like a coincidence worth writing about. The idea that we wanted to write about was one of choosing your battles and fighting only the ones that mean something to you so that you have the passion and perseverance needed to overcome obstacles. We thought of Rasiq, an amalgamation of Ravi and Kartik, on one of those walks.
It's true that dad is more of an idea machine, a term that I like to use for him. While we were writing the book, he was coming up with one rescue idea every single day! And when you read the book you'll see how nail-biting those are, while being scientifically accurate. He researches a lot for developing those ideas and then writes it out.
Ravi: To add to what Kartik said, we come up with most of these ideas together. Our discussions are like major brainstorming ideas. One of us will share a premature idea and then we both keep bouncing it around till it becomes something beautiful and worth writing about. It doesn't matter whose brainwave it is in the beginning because in the end it's collaboratively produced.
I might be better at coming up with new ideas, but I think Kartik has a better way with the words. The way he fleshes out scenes writes dialogues and very analytically keeps reviewing the plot for loopholes and inconsistencies is mind-boggling. He lives in the world of the characters we are developing and that helps him see them and their actions with an amazing clarity. When we are stuck with some scene, he finds a way forward for the plot more often than not. He says that the characters tell him where to go next!

2) Talking about research around the book "QoS" was more of spiritual fiction, where in this book you have done good research which is visible in character traits? So can you share with us where did you get inspiration from for these characters and plot?

Ravi: I get a lot of my inspiration from characters from people I see around. I like observing people and how they behave. My characters pick up traits from a variety of my observations and interactions. But for the scenes, specifically the rescue missions - the research landed in my lap. With increased global warming or just the nature of our life now, there are too many freak accidents happening around us all the time. Those news reports drew my attention. At the same time, start-ups were coming up for everything - from ordering your groceries to cabs to service men. It made me wonder why not a start-up for saving lives too?
Kartik: My research for the characters is currently very inward looking. I am at a stage where I am finding possibilities of my own behavior through introspection. When I think back over incidents, I love creating scenarios - what would have happened if I had done this, or done that. And then I use it for my characters. That kind of gives my characters a core that is similar to my own but brings in variety from the choices they make. For the scenes and the plot, my research was around physics to make the scenes more real! Also, I spoke to a lot of my friends who are doing their own start-ups to understand how to build business pitches, how investor and client meetings go, etc.

3) I am just giving a hypothetical case. If your book is adapted for a movie/series, can you imagine who would be playing our superheroes role? I need Bollywood names, please.

We would love to see Rajkumar Rao as Rasiq. He's from Delhi and we really like his movies. The intensity and research he brings to his characters are amazing. I also think that he taps into a character's deepest motivations and channelizes them in his acting. We are both huge fans of Rishi Kapoor, so casting him as Rasiq's dad would be perfect. We think Priyanka Chopra would be a good Natasha - she was amazing in the Mary Kom biopic. Aditya Roy Kapoor with curly hair and specs seems like a perfect choice for Nick. For Halka, Rana Daggubati could be a good choice. And perhaps, Vicky Kaushal as Arjun.

4) You made a drastic jump in a genre, from spiritual to entertaining thriller what are you planning next?

Thank you! We are working on a couple of science fiction ideas right now. Hopefully, that'll be our next book. But it's very likely that we are completely absorbed by an idea and write a different book. There's been some demand for a sequel to DareDreamers too. If the response is good, we might do that too!

5) Do share links for our readers.

Youtube Channel: Book Launch Video on our youtube channel

• Website: www.kartiksharma.co.in
• Blog: https://medium.com/@sykartik
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheQuestoftheSparrows
• Twitter: Kartik & Ravi 
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kartik-sharma-90797512/
• Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2wk7B4D
• Book Links: https://amzn.to/2BPbzXb
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5210459.Kartik_Sharma

Murder at the Grand Raj Palace - Baby Ganesh Agency - By Vaseem Khan

If a reader is a fan of fast pace novels and if he still loves a medium or slow placed story then mark my word such tales are worth reading. Same is my experience with Vaseem Khan. He is my favorite detective genre author. His stories and concept are unique. "The Baby Ganesh Detective Agency" concept is just awesome. This is my 3rd read in series after "The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra" and "The Perplexing Theft of the Jewel in the Crown", though I have missed "The Strange Disappearance of a Bollywood Star", I was able to cope up this part very easily. I bet you guys can easily start with any part without feeling lost.

Book Blurb

In the enchanting new Baby Ganesh Agency novel, Inspector Chopra and his elephant sidekick go undercover to investigate a murder at Mumbai's grandest hotel.

For a century the iconic Grand Raj Palace Hotel has welcomed the world's elite. From film stars to foreign dignitaries, anyone who is anyone stays at the Grand Raj.

The last thing the venerable old hotel needs is a murder...

When American billionaire Hollis Burbank is found dead - the day after buying India's most expensive painting - the authorities are keen to label it a suicide. But the man in charge of the investigation is not so sure. Chopra is called in - and discovers a hotel full of people with a reason to want Burbank dead.

Accompanied by his sidekick, baby elephant Ganesha, Chopra navigates his way through the palatial building, a journey that leads him steadily to a killer, and into the heart of darkness

Coming to the story part, "Murder at the Grand Raj Palace" revolves around a high profile murder at a high profile event at a high profile location. Fun apart, an American Billionaire was found dead after he bought a multi-million dollar painting at India's grand Art Exhibition in India's most notable hotel. Just like his earlier cases, inspector (I would say Detective) Chopra entered in the case by his ex-colleague from the force. But seniors in the force didn't want to mess things up and were trying to close the case on the name of suicide. The moment Chopra visited the crime scene he was sure that things were not to be taken at face value. With his potent case solving style and fieldwork, he started revealing dark chapters of the victim. As usual, apart from this case, one thing or another kept happening in Chopra's life. In this part, he was just a few days from his marriage anniversary when he took the case. Poppy (his wife) was expecting a grand celebration, landed in the hotel with Irfan and Ganesh. Her entry had also encouraged another incident and Poppy took charge to solve the case (not murder one). Read the book to know more,.

While reading the book whole setup and scenes came into my mind as if watching a movie or series. I wish rights for the same would be sold or series starts soon. So the next time I read I can visualize Chopra and Poppy.

Coming to my personal observations

• Awesome narration style
• Easy language
• Funfilled incidents and nail-biting suspense
• Single-themed multiple cases

Talking about ratings

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

The book can be found at Amazon and Flipkart

Reviews from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Book Review - The Peshwa: The Lion and The Stallion by Ram Sivasankaran

I have bought the kindle copy of "The Peshwa: The Lion and the Stallion" almost 2 years back on 14th July 2016, but copy stayed in my kindle shelf due to unavoidable circumstances called To-Be-Read. We even interviewed Ram Sivasankaran (the author of the book) last year (March 2017), still, we forgot to read the book. But a few weeks back I found this guy giving me scary looks on my Kindle shelf. At last, I took it under "Currently reading". And then it brought hell lot of guilty for me, not to read this book early. Usually, I keep 4-5 books under "Currently Reading " shelf and read them parallelly. But after reading the first few chapters of the book, it made a place in "Currently Only Reading" category. Very few books in the last 2 years were able to become the contender of the category. Though it took me some time to post the review.

Book Blurb

It is the 18th century and despite the dominant Mughal rule, the Maratha Confederacy has established itself as a force to be reckoned with in the Indian Subcontinent. The fragile peace between the two powers is threatened when Balaji Vishvanath Bhat, Peshwa of the Confederacy, foils the plans of Nizam Ul Mulk of the Mughal Empire, and asserts the power of the Marathas. However, little does the Peshwa know that he has dealt the Nizam an unintended wound—one with roots in his mysterious past and one that he would seek to avenge till his last breath. 

When the Peshwa surrenders his life to a terminal illness dark clouds gather over the Confederacy as it is threatened by a Mughal invasion as well as an internal rebellion. 

All the while a passive spectator, the Peshwa’s son, Bajirao Bhat, now needs to rise beyond the grief of his father’s passing, his scant military and administrative experience, and his intense love for his wife and newborn son to rescue everything he holds dear. Will the young man be able to protect the Confederacy from internal strife and crush the armies of the Empire all while battling inner demons? Will he live up to his title of Peshwa?

"The Peshwa" is written around Maratha Confederacy. Peshwa was the title given to Prime Minister (Second to the Chatrapathi - King of Maratha) The protagonist of our story is Bajirao Bhat, son of Peshwa Vishwanath Balajirao Bhat. Balajirao's cunning and clever strategies had made Marathas independent and strong. He was able to relieve Raj Mata (Sahu's Mother) from the clutches of Moghals without shredding single drop of blood. Balaji Vishwanath wanted his son to succeed the title of Peshwa after him and he had trained Rao well for the tasks. But every road has some turns, things were never smooth for Rao after Balaji Vishwanath's death. Moghul self-appointed Vajir Nizam had broken the peace treaties. Treachery of his own people was his biggest threat after he became Peshwa himself. Read the book to know more.

The book is written in 3rd person perspective. The author has a unique narration style. Description and storyline were merged so well that I hardly find a para unnecessary. Starting from prologue to epilogue I was equally engrossed in the story. Language usage is easy to moderate level. You will easily glue to the book and will enjoy it for sure.

This is for movie buffs. I have seen Bhansali's Bajirao Mastani. This book is far better than the movie and this part is kind of prequel to the movie. I was visualizing Ranbeer Singh as Bajirao and Priyanka Chopra as Kashibai. Just for information, the movie contains only one incident of the book (which is also showed differently) actual movie starts where this part ends, I am not sure whether Ram will add Mastani into the story or not.

Talking about ratings

1. Cover - 4/5
2. Content-  4/5
3. Characte5rs - 4.5/5 (for Nizam & Bajirao)
4. Overall - 4/5 

The book can be found at Amazon and Flipkart

Reviews from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Book Review - 100 Greatest Sportspersons by Kalyani Mookherji

Recently I have started liking real-life short incidents, stories or events about celebrities, businessmen, brands etc. The beauty of this genre is you have freedom of reading book at your liking, your sequence and added benefits of skipping few chapters without affecting overall interest. "100 Greatest Sportspersons" has none such chapters though. The book is worth read for any age group.

Book Blurb

‘Faster, higher, stronger’ is the Olympic motto. But very often the real achievement of a sportsperson is more than breaking and setting records; it is as often about overcoming personal setbacks, changing cultural mind-sets and fighting gender stereotypes. This book brings together 100 such personalities from mid-twentieth century onwards who have not only excelled in their individual fields but more importantly, chartered a new course for others to follow. Through their lives, these men and women have given us a message of inspiration and hope—inspiration to remain committed to our passion and hope that anything is possible if we work hard enough and persevere

As suggested by the title the book contains brief of each sports person's career. The flow of the stories are simple: introductory para, birth & initial upbringing para, followed by their entry into the professional career and their achievements. The final 1-2 paras contain the incidents related to their retirement, awards-accolades and after retirement life. For each player, some unique traits are incidents given at the end of the chapter, which is indeed informative.

Talking about some good points

• Language usage is damn easy. You can easily read it without many difficulties.
• The narration style is straightforward. You won't feel bored. And by chance, any character's story won't interest you much you can always skip it.
• Author has not restricted players from a particular game or country. It is selected based on their persona.
• It can boost your General Knowledge by 100+ sports/player related facts for sure
• You can gift this book to almost any age group. Any person above 2nd grade can easily read this book

Some points of improvements

• Many stories lack life-changing experiences. I mean such high-level celebrities usually have some traits which can be useful as a learning for readers. 
• Stories seem too short. I felt some of the players didn't get equal canvas. Well, I think the author has to decide so I am not emphasizing on the point.

Stories/chapters I personally liked are - Dhyan Chand, Bille Jean King, Eddy Merckx, Garfield Sobers, Zinedine Zidane, Sachin Tendulkar (How Can I not add him to the list)

Ratings

1. Cover - 4.5/5 (I loved collage and sketches)
2. Concept - 3.5/5
3. Content - 3/5
4. Overall - 3.5/5

The book can be found at Amazon and Flipkart

Reviews from other readers can be found at GoodReads