Curtain Call- Book Review

The first thing that you will notice about this book is its cover. The shadows of people holding hands and a signature curtain call pose is very noticeable. Attractive cover sets in motion the mood of the reader as one begins to leaf over the pages.

The book is a collection of 21 short stories that are diverse in genre and elements of storytelling used.

‘Crimson Affair’

It is a story set in the Mughal era with a modern twist. Quick turns and twits keep you hooked to the story. The character of Birbal symbolizes a man who is in dilemma whether to follow his conscience or to give in to the tyranny of the emperors. It goes with modern human relationships, too.

‘Flames’

Thank much to the author for bringing back beautiful memories of my childhood. Yes, I too tried matching my name with my crush and striking out the alphabets. A charming love story.

‘His Leela’

This one is my personal favorite. The marital differences and insecurities are portrayed so sensitively that one feels s for the female protagonist instantly. The quest for acceptance and craving for love is heart wrenching. Such is life and such are marital relationships. How the author has sewn together the broken beads of human emotions is commendable.

‘Mahua’

A story that begins with s mysterious and erotic appeal and ends on a hilarious note. Loved the narrative.

‘Office visit’

It is pyschocolgcal tale and a haunting experience of a doctor. The series of events won’t let you keep the book down. Though am a little confused about the ending.

‘My fair husband’

A hilarious story of a couple who are naggingly in love with each other. So much so that after the death of the husband, the wife enjoys living in with his ghost. Nicely written.

‘Mistaken identity’

A typical Bollywood masala story where the girl and a boy (read RAJ) meet and tries to outsmart each other. Eventually the story ends with a happy grin on the readers face.

‘Ablaze within’

A terrific tale of a sex worker who refuse to divulge the details of her life and keeps the ablaze within intact. One thing that is stark noticeable in all the stories is its simplistic portrayal but with a strong narrative.

‘Time after time’

I loved it. A rare concept or a myth, whatever it was, I loved it. Wondering what would happen if it happened for real. Excellent storyline.

‘The lifeless living sculpture’

A story that is very different from other stories in its style. A love tale with not so cliché style. Loved the opening lines used by the author.

‘Cooking up a storm’

A story that starts with revenge and ends with a haunting guilt. The plot is unique and interesting, though the story ends without the justification for the father’s death.

‘Ookleeboo’

The title created suspense and I eagerly read the story only to be happily surprised. What a story! Symbolic of humans who create nightmares and exist in this dark world. Ookleeboos exist? Yes they do.

‘Another chance’

A story about time travel to avoid the fatal accident that could not avoid the deathly clock. Regrets are painful. The author has tried to convey this message very subtly.

‘Boys will be boys’

Boys are so going to love it. Let’s face it…boys will be boys. A crazy story that depicts what goes inside out the male brain. I loved the way author has used a simple yet impactful narrative to make it a lively story.

‘The princess bride’

An intriguing tae of infidelity and a illusory marital relationship. Surprising twist in the end. The intimacy between marital couples very romantically delved into.

 ‘The last rock on which the world collapsed’

Story of a prodigy and an unexpected end. The mystery that unfolds is breathtaking. Brilliance heightened by the author. A sci-fi genre very intricately used.

'Office Games'
Lucid language, impeccable command on  the story line and a story marred with dirty office politics. One of the most entertaining reads.

Overall, I would rate this book 5/5.

I just have to. This book deserves it. A brilliant book. Special mention to Rafaa Dalvi, the editor for this crisp read.

Buy the Book here:

http://www.amazon.in/Curtain-Call-Various-Authors/dp/9384315370/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475560464&sr=8-1&keywords=curtain+call

The Fence- A bouquet of fresh short stories.

Beautiful bouquet of fresh short stories that make the readers bask in the fragrance of creativity and its delicacy. All the 8 stories are a treat to the readers. I suppose this is the outcome of a creative workshop held by the publishing house and what an amazing result. It quenches the literary thirst.

All the stories are very intricately woven. The details, setup, plot, and the narration are brilliant. “The Other woman” by Kabir Malhotra touches the sensitive topic of infidelity without making it sound cliche. The end was completely unexpected and kept me interest intact. “The Smartphone” is a complete reader’s bliss. Very relatable. Our social media addiction very nicely sketched by the writer.

“What she wanted” is one of my personal favorites. The other two being, “The other Woman” and “The Smartphone”. The protagonist in “What she wanted” hits you hard. It is a grim reality and the character of Sujata is extremely heart wrenching. A woman neither black nor white. The shades of gray very prominent. The vacuum of her life and her craving for life brought tears to my eyes. “Resignation to heaven” deals with the sensitive topic of mercy killing. A thought provoking story.

“Cashmere, I need Cashmere” portrays the sibling rivalry and an unusual family bonding in a very light manner. Gracie was a show stealer. The emotions perfectly baked. 

“Runaway” is sweet romantic tale that asserts the importance of not taking our loved ones for granted. To confide at the right time. To not run away from situations. “Illustrado’s Eulogy” is a very poignant story. Still in the clouds of the story. The postmaster steals the show. Narrative of this story is superlative.

“Love is everything” again is a mesmerizing tale of love, but lacks the impact. Overall a nice story.

Do buy the book. A beautiful collection of short stories.

My rating:

4/5.

Amazon buy link:

http://www.amazon.in/Fence-Various-Authors/dp/9384315389?ie=UTF8&keywords=the%20fence&qid=1473412206&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

Book Review- Coalescence by Shivam Singh

It took me almost a month to read this book. Not because it was too elaborate and lengthy, but because each story was consuming in itself. It is a compilation of short stories by author, Shivam Singh. Each story has a flavor of its own and yet there is a connect.

Usually, I am not much into short stories, but this particular book I was eager to read because of its title and interesting cover. Compiling 8 stories into one, this book offers an interesting read to the readers.

The first story hooks you to the book. 'Being Dead' is one of the most realistic stories that I have read in  the last few months. The time span between the death and the soul's journey to the heavenly State is surreal. A very soulful story. "The Confession" is a love story that portrays the college romance in a cliche way. An average, but overall a good read.One story that gives goosebumps is , 'A balcony of Crimson'. As if the author bared his heart out. The use of crimson for the romance and death simultaneously will leave you awestruck. Fantastic!

Diving into the human mind is yet another story, 'The truck Driver', that will find its connect with almost all the age groups. A groping story that deals with a broken family and how the scrawny son rediscovers his love for his parents. A reality for most of the readers out  there.

Editing errors are there and it could have been crisper. I don't get into much of grammar while reading, but it's the construction of sentences that appeal to me. Those ways , this book has not disappointed me.

I would rate the book 3/5.

Grab your copy at

http://www.amazon.in/Coalescence-Shivam-Singh/dp/9384315214?ie=UTF8&keywords=coalescence&qid=1472474912&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

Flying Colors- A "novel" treat by Chetan Singh

The cover is appealing in the sense its blue hues hints at the bland life of the people working in the aviation industry. As you leaf over and star reading, it picks up the pace. The writer has very nicely summed up the life of the airline crew members that is constantly under the sun. Its a different  story because very  few writers attempt to pick up a sector that's not exciting in a typical sense. A well appreciated attempt.

The first few chapters are peppy. From the jokes to friendly banter,the novel touches the heart and soothe the troubled minds. Its easy and fun to read. Not much to think about or tax our brains. I was in fact amused by the writers style that how he has weaved a emotional catastrophe of the air hostess into a series of lighthearted jokes. This helped the book in not being too heavy or philosophical and at the same time an interesting read. The character of Sam is very relatable and unique. This goes on for almost all the characters penned down.

Amidst the jokes and parties happening, the journey of the aviation guys is surreal and very comforting. A warm read with a cup of coffee. The writer has not used a incomprehensible vocab and that is actually a plus point. 

The plot is not a very mysterious or a powerful one, and that remains to be a negative and a positive both. If you are looking for a brain taxing novel, then this is not for you. The novel at some places looks like a movie screenplay.

Do read it. The author has attempted a road less ravelled and tried to portray the shades of the aviation industry. A heartwarming novel. 

I would rate the book as 3/5.

Grab your copy at:


http://www.amazon.in/Flying-Colors-Chetan-Singh/dp/9384315362/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471583085&sr=8-1&keywords=flying+colors

A Bad Hair 'DE'

“She” is a well known and highly acclaimed novelist and a columnist who has to her credit umpteen literary recognitions. Or that’s what her wiki page suggests. “She” has redefined the socialistic charm and glittery world of the fashion with her “sex-sational” write-ups that center on these “good-for –nothing’ celebrities. When I say good for nothing, I do not intend to question their sensibilities or qualifications, but attempt to mention, with full respect to their achievements, that their contribution to this nations pride is clouded with a lot of speculation.

So, when “she” decided to ‘talent-shame’ the highly talented and qualified athletes representing our country in the Olympics 2016 at Rio, little did she know that her “larger-than-her-brains” mouth will get her into trouble. And it was a well deserved social slamming for her.

“She” is Shobha De.

In the series of events that began on Sunday she took to twitter to express her disappointment over the poor performance displayed by the Indian sportspersons. Point. We all were disappointed. But she was not done. In the same flow she went on to mock at the athletes for their selfie moment and took digs at them.

Well, we live in a free nation. She has a right to opinion. A right to wear that glossy lip color and shoot the obnoxious words off her mouth. She holds the right to tweet in any which way possible and whatsoever her whacky mind desires. I understand Ms De must have taken time out from her busy schedule, that includes attending page 3 parties and quoting sex musings, to watch the sporting event ( if at all she did) before commenting on our “Star performers”. Yes, that is how I choose to address them as they all are stars who represented India in the most prestigious sporting extravaganza

.

So, Ms. De missed out on some technical details before showing off the symptoms of a verbal diarrhea. They don’t just have one goal of “going to Rio and take selfies”. Madam, they tire out their bodies, suffer lifelong injuries, and battle out all odds to make it to the Olympics and represent Indian contingent. Dipa Karmarkar, if Ms. De has ever heard of her, has qualified for the vaults final match and becomes the first Indian Gymnast wonder to qualify for the vaults final in a long time. It is very dangerous to say the least. A small error and a gymnast can die. Experts say Dipa does the Produnova even better than Produnova.

The Men’s hockey team missed it by a whisker and lost to Germany. The agony was visible on their faces. Abhinav Bindra , the man who brought home gold in the Beijing Olympics 2008, failed to grab that shimmering beauty this time. But did they not try? Were they not shattered ? Was it not visible on their faces?

Did these people set their “selfie goals” before reaching Rio. Oh! Come on Ms De get a life. That reminds me, neither has she won a Booker prize nor has she been nominated for it. Any Life goals, Ms De?

Does she even realize that when she tweets on social media , she is actually addressing some 7 lac followers , who for some odd reasons choose to even follow her, and is disparaging the image and credibility of the country? While she is busy typing those unwanted words , comfortably seated in her plush study and sipping green tea, those very athletes, who she choose to mock at, are sweating out in scorching sun and saving every single penny to afford a coach for themselves. They are dreaming of making it big while peddling their way through odds of life in some remote village of India. When she writes a socialistic sex drama and gets it  "Penguin published”, she can guarantee that millions of copies would be sold off due to her “connections”. But these performers , they put their life on stake, take the tough challenges in  their stride, and search for sponsors.

 One thing is for sure.

Turning sixty does not bring in sensibilities. 

Want to read more....

Follow the link

http://www.halfbakedbeans.in/blog/2016/08/10/a-bad-hair-de/

For the selfie craze, a suggestion to a certain Ms. De. Next time you flaunt your senseless slapstick humor and over-hyped intellect, do remember that people have different life goals and they do not need a 'gyan' from you.

P.S. We love you, Writers!

5 Reasons you should never argue with a writer

Writers are people with an immense knack for creativity and finding uncommon in the commons. In search of their plots, they get into the skin of the characters and feel myriad emotions through them. Their mind is a garbage bin where umpteen ideas get stored, wrapped in dust. Superficially they are calm and composed, but beneath there is a volcano that is all raring to erupt. Be sweet to them and they will go to grave with you or dare you argue with them; May God bless you!!!!!

Before you indulge in some mouthful of word war with them, do keep the following pointers in mind:

1.     His vocabulary will slash your poor choice of words and throw you on the ground. They are the elite crowd who uses a glossy list of vocabulary for simple words like “yes” and “no” and you are left wondering what did that mean. Before arguing with them, keep a dictionary handy. Writers are so uncanny and unpredictable that you cannot make out if that's a frown or a wrinkle that has grown out of years. The humble and polite souls may turn into a demon the moment you miss an article in the sentence.  Argue at your own risk.

2.     Writers are parasites.  They survive and draw the ideas from the people living and character-paints them. If you enter into a verbal fracas with a writer, chances are that you might end up being etched on some high-quality paper with varied characteristics. The writer may kill you in one of his plots by resorting to hideous means. He might throw you off the cliff and dedicate a torturous death or let your character succumb to slow death by some fatal disease. You are giving him a plot for his next literary canvas. Unintended fame for him. You never know he might use your character in his fiction and murder you there. Cold blooded murder. Beware. You might end up in a coma by the time you finally conclude what was it about.......actually. 

       Read on more at the Official Half Baked Bean page by clicking on the following link 

http://www.halfbakedbeans.in/blog/2016/08/01/p-s-we-love-you-writers/

E-Love:Terms & conditions applied

Welcome to the e-world where virtual space is more happening than the personal space. The debut novel of the author has hit the bull’s eye and tapped the much in trend cyber love to attract the readers. And he is successful to a limit where he effortlessly depicts the mundane life of an individual, the college chaos, and the cyber frenzy. At first glance, it looks like a love diary more than a book.

The book begins on a very pleasant note and the narrative picks up well. The language used is very simple yet endearing. Its transition from the real world to the virtual world through few “tings tings” is very catchy and transports you to a completely different level that you can relate with. The plot is set in the city of Rajasthan and gives a very earthy touch to it which is in complete contrast to the fast paced plot.

The flow of the story is smooth and the transition from one chapter to another is easy and doesn’t require much forced thought process. The lead characters Ankit and Akshi are lovable, simple, and relatable. Every youngster can relate with them. At times, it gets little boring to read the detailed explanation of the texts but that is thoughtfully done to convey the Cyber slangs.

Coming to the core theme of the book, the cyber love that blooms in all its glory is cliché, yet endearing.  It keeps alive the interest of the readers. The plot could have been more gripping and crisp. Overall, a fresh read while travelling or over a cup of coffee on a rainy day.

My rating 
3/5

Amazon buy link

http://www.amazon.in/E-Love-Ankit-Bohra/dp/9384315184/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1469976263&sr=8-2&keywords=e-love