Book Review: Cents & Non cents by Mohammed Saif

Introduction

• ISIN: 9352013654
• Genre: Non fiction / Business / Economics
• Publishers: Leadstart Publishing
• Price: Rs. 299/- (I got this book from the publisher for a review)

What is the root cause of inflation? { } Too much money in circulation. { } Demand for goods exceeds supply. { } Increase in the cost of production. { } All of the above. { } None of the above. For millennia, the waywardness of inflation has vexed economists and financial experts alike yet neither individuals nor nations have succeeded in coming to grips with it. Across the world, it is the common man, bewildered and exasperated by this baffling phenomenon called 'inflation', who has always been left holding the short end of the stick. No matter what the remedial measures adopted by experts, INFLATION will just not be TAMED. This book, written by a non-economist, in a style readily comprehensive by lay persons (who are not adverse to a modicum of basic maths), delves into the arcane world of money, commerce, banking and finance to wring out the shocking truth about inflation from the shadowy depths. These pages will indelibly alter the reader's perception of money and leave the worlds of banking and economics both shaken and stirred.

Behind the book

Source: Amazon.in

Book Review: The Superhero Soul by Dilip Bhatija

Introduction

• ISIN: 978-9385936012
• Genre: Self Help / Motivational
• Publishers: Bloomsbury India
• Price: Rs. 399/- (I got this book from the author for a review)

This book is a warm hearted journey to our most intimate source. It offers us not just a map, but the hat and shoes, not just inspiration, but the actual tools that enable us to get ‘here’ and to authentically express the brightness of our being in each moment of life.

Behind the book

Source: Goodreads.com

Book Review: Yama's Lieutenant by Anuja Chandramouli

Introduction

• ISIN: 978-8184007398
• Genre: Fantasy Fiction
• Publishers: Random House India
• Price: Rs. 399/- (I got this book from the author for a review)

The inhabitants of the thousand hells of Yama have broken free from their prison and vowed to wreak havoc on the heavens, the earth and hell. With the fiendish Hatakas and Narakamayas teamed up with Naganara, a terrifying necromancer hungry for power, the universe is headed for war and destruction unless one human has something to do with it.

Agni Prakash, a debonair young man whose world has been turned upside down by the death of his twin sister, Varu, has been enlisted to stop these forces and be Yama s very own lieutenant. As the mythical world clashes with his own, Agni discovers a manuscript left behind by his sister. Hauntingly, it draws parallels to the treacherous path upon which he has been thrust. Equipped with an acerbic wit and winning charm, Agni undertakes a battle, where the odds seem tipped wildly against him, and finds unlikely companions along the way.

Will he be able to uncover the secret behind his sister's writings? And more importantly, will he be able to avert the destruction that seems imminent?

Behind the book

Source: Amazon.in

Book Review: Exhale by Laxmi Hariharan ( A part of Uncommon Origins-A Collection of Gods, Monsters, Nature, and Science (UnCommon Anthology)

Introduction

• ISIN: 9781533322845)
• Genre: Fantasy Fiction
• Publishers: Fighting Monkey Press
• Price: Rs. 1364.56/- (I got this book from the author for a review)

UnCommon Origins presents 22 depictions of moments on the precipice, beginnings both beautiful and tragic. Fantastical stories of Creation, Feral Children, Gods and Goddesses (both holy and horrific), and possibilities you never dared imagine come to life. Including stories from some of the most talented Speculative Fiction and Magical Realism authors around, UnCommon Origins will revisit the oldest questions in the universe: Where did we come from? and What comes next?

Featuring:
The Hanging Gardens of Brooklyn by Rhoads Brazos
Aplanetary by Holly Heisey,
Author Glass Heart by Sacha
Hope Cultural Gleanings by Deanne Charlton
Fringling by J.D. Harpley - Astral Scribe
Poseidon's Tears by E.L. Johnson
The Curl of Emma Jean by Michele Tracy Berger
The Price by Samuel Peralta
Growing Simon by Jo West
The Terrible Discovery of Professor Charles Cooper by Jonathan Cromack
The Last Star by DL Orton
My Darlings by P.K. Tyler
The Tombstone Man and the Coming of the Tigress by Nillu Nasser Stelter
In The Periphery by Erica Ruhe
Exhale by Laxmi Hariharan
Ifrit by Brent Meske
Swim With The Beavers by Robert Allen Lupton
The Least Child by Daniel Arthur Smith
Consciousness by Zig Zag Claybourne
Her by Rebecca Poole
The Apple by Shebat Legion
Becoming Mage by Melanie Lamaga 

Behind the book

Source: Amazon.in

Book Review: The Tantric Curse by Anupama Garg

Introduction

• ISIN: 978-8129137524
• Genre:Fiction
• Publishers:Rupa Publications
• Price: Rs. 295/- (I got this book from the author for a review)

On an amavasya night, eight-year-old Rhea mysteriously lands at the doors of Shaktidham, a Tantric house of worship, in a trance. Realizing that she is blessed with unusual faculties, the guru of Shaktidham, Satya, chooses her as a disciple over his own son, Krishnam, to carry on his lineage, a privilege previously bestowed only to males. But the lineage has been cursed for generations, and it is up to Rhea to either break the curse or perish in the attempt.

Will she succeed in her endeavour? Will her love for Krishnam become an obstacle in her path? The Tantric Curse, an unusual story set in the world of Tantra that aims to dispel most of the myths about the practice, will keep you spellbound till the very last page.

Behind the book

Source: Amazon.com

Book Review: Kanhu & Other Stories Translated by Saroj Mishra

Introduction

• ISIN: 978-9383562800
• Genre:Fiction
• Publishers:Platinum Press
• Price: Rs. 99/- (I got this book from the publisher for a review)

"This book contains eleven short stories in Odiya translated into English. The original authors are all well-known writers, some of them winners of the Kendriya Sahitya Akademi awards and others honoured with several state-level awards. The stories in this anthology reflect the rich and divergent cultural heritage of Odisha and the current thinking in Odiya society - varying from focus on the plight of the underprivileged to the struggles of different sections of society in dealing with moral dilemmas. The stories have been selected carefully to promote the Odiya language, with its colourful idiom, the heritage and the social ambience of Odisha, to a wider audience so that the readers can learn about its rich literature and the glorious history of Odisha. "

Behind the book

Source: Amazon.com

Book Review: The Guest by Mitali Meelan

Introduction

• ISIN: 978-8192982229
• Genre:Fiction
• Publishers:Black Ink
• Price: Rs. 139/- (I got this book from the BecomeShakespeare.com for a review)

Eighteen-year-old Neha Ranade is perfectly content with her life—a singer boyfriend, a group of loyal friends and with the college annual festival around the corner, her days are full and exciting. But when her father’s Canadian colleague arrives home, Neha’s grand plans are uprooted. What could be the intentions of this curious guest’s sudden visit—for better or for worse?

Behind the book

Source: Amazon.com

Book Review : Panorama - A collection of short stories by Shilpi Chaklanobis

Introduction

• ISIN: 978-9352069668
• Genre:Fiction
• Publishers: Notion Press
• Price: Rs. 150/- (I got this book from the author for a review)

A turbulent relationship between a mother and a daughter takes a sudden turn when the daughter stumbles across a past that she never knew.

The golden period of a professor's life is tainted by questions about his purpose until one night gives him all the answers he needs.

Desperate times test us all but when hunger drives a girl to do the unthinkable, her life changes forever.

Woven around the lives of the people around us - the shy girl on the metro, your domestic help, your neighbors and perhaps even you - this collection of short stories will take you on a bittersweet journey that explores the spectrum that is part of any human relationship and all the complexity and chaos that secretly dwell within the homes and hearts of India.

Often laced with an element of introspection, the stories are sure to change the way you see the world around you...

Behind the book

Source: Amazon.com

Book Review: A Darling in Your Fifties by Ashmi

Introduction

• ISIN: 978-9352016396
• Genre:Fiction
• Publishers:Become Shakespeare.Com
• Price: Rs. 300/- (I got this book from the publisher for a review)

Arjun has disowned his wife, Neema. She has grown to hate her tormentor, her husband, yet knows a divorced woman in India is a scandal and she is trapped. With a malicious mother on the other end, she has nowhere to go. When Arjun, aided and abetted by his mother in law, escalates his attempts to eliminate Neema, she holds her peace, sinks into the fantasy of Bollywood movies, and later empowered by the return of her long-lost friends finds the strength to go in search of a new life

Behind the book

Source: Amazon.com

Behind the Book: Miles To Go Before I Sleep by Shilpi Chaklanobis

Book Review: Mother Teresa - An Untold Story by Dr. Aroup Chatterjee

Introduction

• ISIN: 978-8175993525
• Genre: Non Fiction / Religion 
• Publishers: Fingerprint Publishing House
• Price: Rs. 191/- (I got this book from the publisher for a review)

The popular tendency is to deify myths, gurus, and personalities without investigating the claims thoroughly. Mother Teresa is one such name. Does Mother Teresa deserve her reputation as the most charitable person who ever lived? This book makes for a gripping but disconcerting read.

‘Brilliant, heroic, devastating’ – Dr. William Radice, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

‘Necessary, well-documented’– The Times Higher Education Supplement, London

‘Painstakingly recorded, (exposes) the other side of Teresa’ – Irish Independent, Dublin

‘Very serious and deserves wide dissemination . . . Truly shocking’– The Irish Times, Dublin

‘Explosive’– The Asian Age

‘Written with painstaking care’ – The Telegraph, Kolkata

‘Dr. Chatterjee tackles the inaccuracies, misconceptions, and the elaborate propaganda machine enacted to portrait the albanian nun as relevant humanitarian . . .’ – Hemley Gonzalez, founder of Responsible Charity Corp

‘Mother teresa at some point in her career lost connection with reality and ballooned out of all proportion, serving the cause of the ecclesiastical politics of the vatican rather than the cause of suffering humanity. Dr. Aroup Chatterjee does an excellent job in separating the reality from the layers of myth-making’ – Dr. Ketaki Kushari Dyson, writer, translator, and researcher

Behind the book

Source: Goodreads.com

Character Interview: Simeen Desai from My Last Love Story by Falguni Kothari

About the Book:

Perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes’s, Me Before You, My Last Love Story is a heartbreakingly romantic tale about the complexities of trauma and whether love can right a wrong.

I, Simeen Desai, am tired of making lemonade with the lemons life has handed me.

Love is meant to heal wounds.

Love was meant to make my world sparkle and spin.

Love has ripped my life apart and shattered my soul. 

I love my husband, and he loves me.

But Nirvaan is dying.

I love my husband. I want to make him happy.

But he is asking for the impossible. 

I don’t want a baby.

I don’t want to make nice with Zayaan.

I don’t want another chance at another love story. 

Book Review: Voyagers Into the Unknown by Ruchira Khanna

Introduction

• ISIN: 9781504345460
• Genre: Fiction
• Publishers: Balboa Press
• Price: Rs. 1,189.61/- 

In the historic Indian town of Agra, you can find a very unusual tour company, which is owned by a charming young man named Raj. Although Raj's official job is to show off the historical landmarks of Agra, including the legendary Taj-Mahal, his true mission is to heal the souls of his broken "birds," as he affectionately refers to his tour participants. His business operates purely upon word-of-mouth referrals, ensuring that all of his tour members arrive in Agra with their hearts in their hands, ready for the spiritual growth and cleansing that Raj is known to provide. Healing the hearts of the spiritually damaged can be a difficult job, and in this particular tale, Raj finds himself faced with his most challenging tour group yet. First, there is Ira, a stunningly gorgeous but fragile young woman on the brink of suicide. Next, we meet Darci and Lennard, a couple on the verge of divorce.

Then there is Carl, an irritable, antisocial workaholic who has burned all of his bridges. Lastly, we meet Asha, an elderly widow who still yearns for the company and comfort of her late husband. When disaster strikes the tour group, everything is thrown into jeopardy, including lives, relationships, and Raj's very reputation as a tour guide. Raj must find a way to lift the spirits of these five special travelers, even in the face of death and despair. Venture into the unknown and discover how Raj Touristry heals the brokenhearted, one soul at a time. "

Voyagers into the Unknown" is a vibrant story of transformation through an unlikely source: a local tour guide of historical Agra, India where the Taj Majal still sways those who behold it. Seeped in cultural philosophy, this novel is an uplifting read from Ruchira Khanna." - Charli Mills, Writer & Lead Buckaroo of Carrot Ranch Communications Voyagers into the Unknown is a delightful tale that interrogates the emotional connection between strangers and between races. With a cast of vivid characters, Ruchira Khanna draws the reader into a captivating emotional drama. Agra, the city, stands as both an alluring character and a magnificent setting that directs the diverse experiences, which are woven deftly into the fabric of the plot. The book is a wonderful compilation of encounters, both unexpected and unfamiliar. -Jaya Padmanabhan Editor, India Currents

Behind the book

Book Review: The Heart Listens to No One: it hums its own song by Purba Chakraborty

Introduction

• ISIN: B01BKQYKC6
• Genre: Poetry Book / Anthology/ Romance
• Publishers:Amazon
• Price: Rs. 68/- 

A collection of 35 love poems on Unconditional love, Longing, Romance, Fond reminisces and Separation.

The heart listens to no one. It hums its own song. This is primarily the reason why love and music are so much interrelated. When a person falls in love, his heart becomes an orchestra of emotions which churns out a beautiful song, audible only to the heart of his lover.

There are different kinds of love stories, but one thing is same in all of them. In every love story, there is a melody. It might be sweet or passionate. It can also be transcending or heart wrenching.

In this book, you will be able to taste 35 distinct flavors of love. Delve in the verses, catch a glimpse of the 35 love stories unfolding before you and hear the melody they produce.

The heart listens to no one because it is governed by love. Then, why try to control it? Let it produce its own melody. Let it hum its own song..

Behind the book

Source: Goodreads.com

Cover Reveal : We will meet again by Tarang Sinha

Book Review: Fluence by Stephen Oram

Introduction

• ISIN: 978-1781323632
• Genre: Contemporary/ Dystopian Fiction
• Publishers: SilverWood Books Ltd
• Price: Rs. 1597.70/- (I got this book from b00k r3vi3w for a review)

It’s the week before the annual Pay Day when strata positions are decided by the controlling corporations. The social media feed is frenetic with people trying to boost their influence rating while those above the strata and those who’ve opted out pursue their own manipulative goals.

Amber is ambitious. Martin is burnt out by years of struggling. She cheats to get what she wants while he barely clings on to what he has.

Set in a speculative near-future London, Fluence is a satirical story of aspiration and desperation and of power seen and unseen. It’s a story of control and consequence. It’s the story of the extremes to which Amber and Martin are prepared to go in these last ten thousand minutes before Pay Day.

Behind the book

Source: Goodreads.com

Book Review: My Last Love Story by Falguni Kothari