Review: I Was A Bitch

I Was A Bitch by Emily Ruben
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Show Stopper!

A young adult novel that caught me by the collar.



I've always been an admirer of thick books. Being lost in them for hours and hours on a Sunday. This functioned perfectly well for me.

Story gets you to the action scene where Lacey, the protagonist is lying on the hospital bed and being informed that she has come out of coma after two months. More to that, she has lost her memory of 2 years. When inquired what her age is, she is only able to remember the things she did 2 years back. Quite thrilling, isn't it?

There's more. Unknown people keep coming in her room and informing her that we are related to you. As Lacey gets confused, you also have no options but to bear with her memory loss effects. Because since you knew the situation with Lacey, you are stuck with her story. This is the trick, the author does to you.

Lacey is confused with two angel-looking boys. Derek and Finn. We get to know that Derek is Lacey's boyfriend. Her family is supportive to her. They think of Derek like their family member. And there's Finn, with whom Lacey feels a connection but Lacey's parents don't know who this guy is. She can't decide whom to choose.

What's her real personality?



The plot of this book is commendable. I liked the titles of each chapter. How a teenager's life is like, the author has described it very well. It was fun and humorous most of the times. Seeing the protagonist in the dilemma was a treat but at the same time, you sympathize with her condition.

Emily Ruben has written a fantastically engaging novel. She had be caught up with the issues between Lacey, Derek and Finn. With a lot of mystery and drama, I have surely enjoyed her work to the fullest. I can't wait to read more books by the author.

Verdict : Recommended for Young Adult readers!

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Review: The Dev Anand Story

The Dev Anand Story by Dr. Govind Sharma IAS Retd.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Govind Sharma's remarkable tale of a young man chasing his dream of becoming an actor offers hope in the area of showmanship.

A lucid narration takes you back to yester years (provided that you were alive in the era).

The narration is filled with the hidden and lesser known facts about Dev Anand's life.



After writing various fiction novels, the author has penned down a book about the actor he admires the most and his efforts do not disappoint.
Using the mechanics of his own imagination, he elaborates how Dev Anand became his favorite actor.
He unprejudicly describes about both the successes and failures of Dev Anand during his wonderful career.

The author narrates the demise of the actor with a heavy heart at the beginning of the book.
Then he beautifully sketches the journey of Dev Anand into Film Industry. Finally, the book talks about the Awards and Honours he was galored with.

I was skeptical of the recital being engaging and there were in fact blockades in the flow of reading. The lucidity for me picked up when the travails.

Gathering all the information about the actor's journey, the author has researched extensively and that adds up. Although, I would have prefered to see more vernacular ornamentation to the plain sailing writing style.

A tribute in true sense. Few strands here and there about the humorous incidences during the movies make one chuckle.
Dev Anand has seen his share of ups and downs. An admiring story of an Indian actor, Dev Anand who succeeded, failed and succeeded again and again.
A mostly informative, emotional and insightful look into the inner working of Film Industry. Reading this book, you'd appreciate the fact that fans of Dev Anand were a major culture force.

Through a simple and engaging rendering, the book harbors far more than just advice and inspiration.
Inspirational quotes, detailed description of the actor's movies and his struggles featured heavily in The Dev Anand Story.

The trail of iconic movies of Guide and the classic "Jhonny mera Naam" pastes a smile on my face. The motivational mirror this book is supposed to be on the author stands out with a remarkable ending pages.

The man got Padma Bhushan, I'm not qualified enough to comment on his caliber.

But I can rate the book and it comes out as 3.75/5.

This one will work out for anyone who has an interest in movies.

For Dev Anand fans, it panders to your fandom.





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Review: Tell Tale: Short Stories

Tell Tale: Short Stories by Jeffrey Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Has O.Henry written all over it.

"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunes are all in confederacy against him."

Jeffrey Archer is known for his strikingly unexpected endings. His stories consist of a beginning, a middle and an end. Not necessarily in the same order.

A collage of 13 intriguing and intelligent plots, Tell Tale reminds the reader to come out of the box. Twists and turns keep you fueled up. Specially the 100-word stories. (Not 99, not 101, exactly 100*)

Elegantly knitted, well-presented, quick-reads, smooth flow of writing. With a blend of real life inspired stories and fiction, the stories leave you guessing.

Who Killed the Mayor?, A Wasted Hour, A Gentleman and a Scholar, A Good Toss to Lose are some of my favorites.

The Harvard professor is painted with some dedication!

For me, the The Road to Damascus took the cherry fair and square.

The story View of Auvers-Sur-Oise is a tricky one to judge and comes in close second with the crispness of The Car Park Attendant.

Finally, the writer leaves you with the first 4 chapters of his next book, Heads You Win releasing on November 2018.

For Archer fans, this gonna be smooth. For outsiders, you would need time accustoming to the snap endings, blitzkrieg awkwardness and unconventional character portrayal.

A mark of a classic twist is that there is a background rising symphony playing in your mind.

Four stars for the ten years it took to come back to short stories.



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Review: Harry the Dirty Dog

Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pleasing little illustrations that woo your adult self to read it over and over again.



Harry, the dog, is not so fond of bathing and shoots away to the city for an adventure.
Well, as the name suggests, he gets dirty from the coal engines, the dusts and the smoke.

Gene Zion packs a good tale of the dog who faces rejection by his owners as they fail to recognize his changed guise. Is that a black dog with white spot or a white dog with black spots?

How will Harry ever get them to know!

This short story never goes old with time. Made superb by the illustrator's dexterity with the pen.



The pictures are perennially etched to the word adorable in our psyche.

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Review: Mi Mamá es un Sillón

Mi Mamá es un Sillón by Linda Gutierrez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Endearing



Having recently picked up Spanish in my early 20s, I decided to give this one a go.

Read this over before going to bed and I must say that I am delighted beyond sleep. Nothing can stop me from calling my mom and telling her the translations of it in Hindi.

The illustrations are cute and funny - not to mention dead accurate.

Mom is compared to a superhero because she can do it all. A superpower that does not wear a cape.
She is also an artist that she can mix all those colors up to make you look cute.

The best of the lines : Mi mamá es un pulpo, porque puede hacer varias tareas al mismo tiempo.



Read this one. Cuteness to the brim!

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Review: Aqson Level I

Aqson Level I by Sreejib
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Truth is, THIS IS THE BEST FANTASY BOOK I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS YEAR.


Fantasy at its pinnacle!
I want to recommend this book to everyone!

There were so many "I-didn't-see-that-coming" moments!!

Being a true fan of Greek Mythology, I salute the author's imagination for putting it up with India's current politics scenarios and making an engaging, delightful and thrilling ride!

Concept is incredibly unique and refreshing, something you will not see occasionally.

India's Prime Minister's seat is in bait for Team Lucifer and Team God that they have to gain in 30 years.

Now, how a game can be played for that long? My questions were the same and it was answered with full satisfaction.
Not at one point in the book did I feel anything out of place. Each and every character befriends you. You see their journey, their insecurities, feel their power and why they need to win and only win!

I appreciated everything about how some students from nowhere, made their name in Indian Student Politics.

The part when Yuvrani visits the mind of her fellow mates!
Well, that was something I bet you would not have read such a thing before.

The language is sharp, inspiring and to the point. The moment you read the first few paragraphs, the book starts captivating you, leaving you no option but to complete it, right then, right there.

Soon you face the dilemma of whose side to choose?

Should it be Yuvrani, who has already won your heart and mind since the beginning of the book, being smart and aware of her powers, quality and that she can move mountains or will it be Toya, who is timid, talented yet refuses to accept her identity or not both of them?

Do you really have a choice of not taking sides?
What are you to do then?

The ending leaves you with many questions unanswered, with an eagerness of waiting for its second part to publish, that shows the level of thought put up in writing this heartwarming book.

This is a book that India needed!

The best thing you'll like about Aqson Level I is the title of the chapters! (Read the book, Come back to this line and tell me you didn't smile!)
I'm in loss of adjectives to describe the awesomeness of Aqson Level I.

When Toya decides to write someday about his friends, about how things turned up for her, it got me emotional.

Kudos to the writer for such an amazing book!

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Review: The Tales of Beedle the Bard

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A sense of completion.

"The fairy tales of the wizarding world for the muggle readers."

The tales are what the children of the wizards and witches have grown up reading. I loved the connection this book establishes with the main frame of the story. The tale of three brothers and death no doubt was heard and was fabulous.

What made the book immersing was the moral giving stories that fills the young magical mind with the essence of good and bad. The teachings and controversies drawn from the interpretations are no different than the muggle world.

Books are banned, content is censored! Humor laden analogy is a JKR signature.
My favorite part has to be the message scribbled by Dumbledore himself at the end of every story.

The hopping pot instills you with the ideology that you must help others if you can. The message is loud and clear - face the consequences should you go immoral.

Laced with emotions and selfless love are the stories of three women who seek redemption.

Though,Babbity Rabbity takes the cake with her wit smacked aura.

Verdict : Future schedule - reading this to my children pretending ourselves to be James and Lily Potter.

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