Neon Soul by Alexandra Elle

This compilation of poems by Alexandra Elle is a wonderful read for anyone at all, simply due to its very appealing writing style. Here is my experience of reading this poetry book that came out very recently.

Finding Juliet by Toffee

'Finding Juliet', as the name suggests is a book about a boy constantly in search for 'the one'. It makes a good book for when you are bogged down with all the heavy books and want to delve into something light. After a heavy overdose of history, the one felt like a decent pick. It may not be the best of books but it did its job well, gave a good break. 

Cover page 

Srishti publishers have been coming out with some really simple and easy to read novels. Same with their cover pages. The cover page here too is very simple and direct. The main character needs no introduction after seeing the cover. The composition is stunning. The red spine sets this book apart on the shelf. The font compliments and imagery. 

It is simple yet pleasing cover page. 

Characters 

The book is essentially about Arjun who is a self-proclaimed geek. He starts out from being a small town regular guy from Hyderabad and moves to Metropolitan Bangalore. There is not much depth in the character as such. He looks like a regular guy who thinks every girl is alike. He cannot think beyond the pretty face and other pretty things, even when he claims to be in love with a girl. 

If the author was planning to portray Arjun shallow throughout the book, then he has achieved the goal but I clearly felt a bit more depth would have helped. Arjun doesn't make you like him or even hate him. Which is worse. 

Other than the random girls in every chapter there are not many characters. They, also sort of, justify the generalization of girls.

Krish is the only character who was fun knowing throughout the book. The self-promoted love guru gives all the gyan about women. He is fun to listen to. I found myself liking this side kick more than I liked any of the other characters. Enough was known about Krish to like him and not enough to dislike him. 

Content 

The entire book is about Arjun and his failed relationships. Arjun falls in love thrice, but it takes losing his parents to make him realize that he is chasing wrong ducks. He moves to Bangalore and finds Krish as his romance mentor. Krish is a cool guy who wears t-shirts with fancy quotes. Krish grooms him to be fun but Arjun slowly turns into a playboy. 

There are eight different girls in the book out of which the romance/fun is described in details with six of them. The interludes are fun to read about in the beginning but later you find yourself knocking Arjun's head and push him pages forward. 

There is a constant generalization of women in the book ie, they take long to dress up, they like teddy bears, etc. The author has complete liberty of designing his own characters but Arjun just started boring us with less than smart comments on girls. 

I just wished there was more diversity in situations Arjun was put in, even the way he thought. The content got repetitive at times where you will find skipping paragraphs and counting pages left to finish the chapter. 

The book is filled with the usual substance that any youth-oriented book contains ie, parties, beautiful women, drunk driving, sexcapades etc. It was fun in the beginning but towards the end, the overdose felt suffocating. 

Language 

Language is simple. It is crude at places. There are sentences that could have been better written. Arjun's poetry also sounds like nursery rhymes. Language isn't the best part of this book. 

Good points 

The cover page is beautiful. The book is fun at certain places. Krish is a great character to listen too. 

Bad points 

He characters lacked depth. The content got repetitive at places. The language fails to stir your emotions. It is not gripping enough. 

Overall 

I did not dislike the book altogether but I didn't like it much too. The absence of this book in my life wouldn't have made any difference. 

Whom do I recommend this to 

This is a light read recommended to those who wouldn't like to delve too much into details while reading. It is a fun read for those who have not read a book on the similar theme before. 

Quotable quotes 

Looks don't matter is the greatest lie ever told.

The book was sent by writersmelon for review. The opinions here are my own, completely uninfluenced. 

Bitter Sweet Love by Michael Faudet

Thanks to the internet, the world is a much smaller place, and gives us many opportunities to connect with netizens from across the world. It is a wonderful medium to come across amazing talent, which would either never reach us, or would –very late. Having seen the Poet’s writing on his social media, I always wanted to read more by him. So, when I got the review copy of Bitter Sweet Love, I was simply elated to be reading it.

Cover

The cover is an illustration of portrait of a girl, it is a sketch and a picture morphed together. It is a clever interpretation of the content of the book - which is a mix of magic and reality, it also seems like an evolution of the cover of the previous, and his first book- Dirty Pretty Things which is a really interesting concept and I am quite eager to see how the next cover turns out. Coming to the title – it is self explanatory and talks of love in all its glory ( and the not so glorious side!).

Characters

The poems don't revolve around one person,  but touches upon relationships between various people. It is about life and lovers, love and heartbreak. The emotions captured in the book are the real protagonists of this one.

Content

Talking about love and all sides of it, Bitter Sweet Love is a beautiful compilation of poems long and short, that touch upon the various emotions co-existing with love. The poems are laden with love, heartbreak, lust and are infused with a hint of magic that makes these sensuous musings all the more interesting.

Good Points

The  poems come in varied sizes. Some, a mere two lines, some spanning a few pages- this mix of sizes doesn't make it a monotony of long poems, nor are there just lines that touch and go.

Each poem tells a story in just a few lines in the most concise and appealing manner. The emotions captured really tug at your heart and the writing style does full justice to what the Poet intends to convey.

The poems are sensuous without being vulgar and they are written in very simple language that is very easy to relate to and understand. Lastly, the touch of magic takes these poems to another level.

Bad Points

Though I enjoyed most of the writing, some of them were lengthy and almost prose like, standing out awkwardly in pages of words that flow very poetically.

Overall

A book full of bitter sweet shades of love, this one captures emotions so beautifully without complicating it. Thoroughly enjoyed the magical elements that are sprinkled generously with a heady mix of sensuous writing!

Who do I recommend this to ?

Poems aren't everyone’s cup of tea mostly because the writing is complicated and multi-layered.

So if you have been contemplating on reading some poetry, grab this new release now!

Quotable Quotes

To speak of unconditional love is like building a palace on quicksand..

Each falling leaf, a fallen tear.. the autumn came with winter near. Now all that's left of love is death, a story told with frozen breath...

When we plant weeds in a beautiful garden, it is often tears of regret that water them..

No fond farewell in silence made, just falling tears  in falling rain.

All sunshine gone, no warmth remains, in empty cups, our autumn came.

I think somewhere in a parallel world, we made love in a garden of wilted flowers. Our trembling hands reaching out, trying to grasp the last watery rays of a dying sun . Where our hearts collided and shattered into a   million tiny stars.

Happy birthday to…

Our second month of the birthday posts , and we have not three but four Authors to talk about . Why ? Because they are amazing!!! Unfortunately we could pick more , but do tell us who did we miss that you love?

Roald Dahl

Born in 1916 on September 16th , if you are a bibliophile and don't know him , you aren’t bibliophile enough!  Though I myself haven’t read any book by him , I have seen quite a few motion pictures adaptations of his stories and loved them( Charlie & the Chocolate Factory , Matilda and more recently BFG) !
Though his books are primarily meant for children , everyone unbarred by age love his writing. Its time you (and I ) picked one book by this legend and indulge some.

Agatha Christie

September 15th was the birthday of the Queen of Crime. Ms. Marple and Poirot are her brainchild , and are very loved by Crime fiction lovers. 2016 also marks 100 years  since the appearance of Poirot –the second most loved detective after Sherlock.
Do I need to bother explaining as to why you should read this amazing legend’s book ? No , I hope not! The writing is gripping and as one detects and guesses the end ,  the climax by her has you spellbound ! While there may be a small chance you may not like her book , but by and large most of us agree that she is one of the finest Crime fiction writer’s to have ever lived.

Stephen King

This American author was born on September 21st , and writes contemporary horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy . He is a multi award winner , and the crime fiction lover in me has been eyeing his books for a long time now. I really look forward to reading one of his books that I have with me soon . Do tell us if you have read anything by him , and if you have , which do you recommend we start it ?

“A little talent is a good thing to have if you want to be a writer. But the only real requirement is the ability to remember every scar.”

Cecelia Ahern

You have either watched , or read or watched and read P.S I love you! Written by this young Author , her birthday falls on the 30th of September and we had to include her!
While her books appeal to a wide array of people , they  make sure you shed a tear or two. If you have a soft corner for romances and tear-jerkers , you should try one of her books.
Here are two of the books by her that we reviewed.

“As the rain falls and the sun shines, they grow, grow, grow; minds so open, they go through life aware and accepting, seeing light where there's dark, seeing possibility in dead ends, tasting victory as others spit out failure, questioning where others accept. Just a little less jaded, a little less cynical.”

Grey by E L James

Considered as the fourth book in the FIFTY SHADES OF GREY trilogy, Grey is the same story but from the male protagonists’ perspective. It is written as seen by Christian Grey. It is the first book from his perspective, and I assume two more will follow to talk about the corresponding two books. I bought this book as soon as it was released, but read it only very recently due to TBR constraints. It was also on my TBR for 2016 ( read all about my TBR for 2016 here ).

Cover

A part of the face of a man over laid over a grey filter would be  the simplest way to describe this cover. There is nothing creative or interesting about the cover, which has the title  in a bold, different shade of grey, and the Author’s name below. No brownie points for the cover. Seems like the fame of the trilogy makes this book an easy buy hence not much thought has gone into the cover to pique the interest of the reader.

Characters

The book revolves around Christian Grey- a rich, handsome  businessman who practices a certain lifestyle due to his troubled past. He is drawn to Anastasia Steele, a shy young lady who he first meets when she comes to interview him. Though the book is predominantly about them, there are other characters like Ana’s family, her room mate, her male friend. There is also Christian’s adoptive family, his ex-lovers, his employees etc who play small but significant roles in the story.

Content

The  book is a romance but with a heavy influence of BDSM. The male protagonist is drawn to this secretive lifestyle due to his troubled childhood, and he is drawn to Ana, who is inexperienced with regards to this lifestyle. Having different opinions and expectations from a relationship, the book takes us on their journey of understanding each other, making amends to accommodate each other simply because they cannot stay apart. It is sensuous, intriguing, and is unintentionally (or intentionally) romantic.

It is an interesting world to be in, where almost everything is near perfection. Where the man is the most ideal one (yes he has a troubled past, but doesn't everyone love a bad, troubled boy?), and the girl is demure on the onset only to blossom into a smart, independent, sexy and a kind spirit. It is an interesting chase, an interesting evolution of a relationship with a lot of intensely sensual  moments.

Language

The writing is simple, written in first perspective.  The male perspective is written by a woman! and is it interesting??!  YES. This was another reason why I wanted to read this book, just to get a peek of what the man thinks, and I must say I like how he thinks, or rather I like how the Author thinks he thinks! (get it?!) .

Good Point

It is  romantic, sensuous and has all the right elements to make for a perfect fairy-tale romance. It has the perfect man that every girl dreams of, it has an enticing woman that every man desires, and of course the luxury, the gifts and everything else makes it dreamily perfect (unreal, but that!). The email conversations are fun, adorable and these have you hooked, making you hope for  a man like that or reminiscing this silly banter that you shared with your partner.  The perspective is intriguing. The little information you do manage to extricate from the heavy over-imposition  of romance is interesting, and the flow of events has you turning pages real quick. Oh, and did I mention the man worth drooling about!? Yes, I suppose that’s covered.

Bad points

The primary intent of reading this book was to understand the underlying facts and behavior as per the BDSM lifestyle. I was really keen on understanding how this lifestyle helps, and why and the likes which wasn't exactly covered in the book. Though initially I thought this was an unadulterated perspective of a man, somewhere I felt, its a woman’s perspective of a man’s mind, which again though rosy is quite a bummer.

Also I was really hoping from some deep and thoughtful insights, but found none. There was barely any deep thinking, analysis etc which I really hoped to see in a genre like this.  Also, I was thinking its one book corresponding to all three books of the trilogy but its not (my bad, I never check properly), and hence its too big and somewhere I feel I wouldn't read the other two. Last of all, I wanted to know about BDSM, but all I got was a lot of romance (not so much a bad thing, but it doesn't stick to what it says).

Overall

If you love books that are romantic and sensuous, you are sure to devour this real quick. Or else, the ordinariness of the story might just bore you no end.

Who do I recommend this to

Romance lovers, lovers of subtle erotica -this one’s for you.

Quotable Quotes

“…I like the connection-me touching her. She’s oil on my troubled, deep, dark waters”.

“ She’s my dream catcher. She keeps my nightmares at bay.”

Confessions of a Queen B* (The Queen B* #1) by Crista McHugh

I have been reading a lot of young adult books these days. Mainly because of the popularity of this genre. It is also revisiting the past which makes the genre more interesting. We have all been through this stage and it surely was a fun time. First crush, butterfly in stomach, facing the queen bees etc. 

This is what brings me to this book called Confessions of a Queen B*. Initially I was really thinking this would be another book that I would love in the genre. But it all came tumbling down in the few pages in the beginning itself. Here is what I felt about the book. 

Cover page

The cover-page of the book is downright boring. These are the moments that make you wonder “do authors understand the importance of cover-pages at all?” the cover-page has a crumpled paper which is laid out and there is some more not so appealing graphics on the cover. A pathetic attempt!

Characters

The book is about Alexis Wyndham. Alexis or Lexi, which she does not like to be called as, has a serious issue. She hates the so called popular crowd. And to channel her hatred she writes a blog. Alexis’s blog is very famous in the school for its big scoop and scandalous revelation. She also uses it as a platform to put the bullies in their place. Alexis’s character is very interesting, in the beginning. 

But then she goes ahead and falls for the school star quarterback Brett. Brett is the most stereotypical male lead you may have found anywhere. He is good at studies, rules the football field, respects women, loves his family, is drop dead gorgeous and does not exist in real life! 

The characters are good as an origin but there seems to be lack of depth in them. They appear to be very shallow as you read on and you end up having disconnected from the plot. Not something you will like in any book. 

Content

Alexis Wyndham hates all the popular kids, including Brett. But when they are paired up together for a school assignment she has no other go but to work with him as partners. She also has a mission of finding out who chickened out from working with her and exchanged his name with Brett. 

In the meanwhile she ends up realizing that Brett is not the stereotypical star quarterback that she read in books and perceives in the head. Brett is actually kind of a nice and she finds herself getting attracted to him.

The content of the book got quite predictable since the beginning of the book. There were no surprise elements in the book. 

Language

There were a number of repetitive words which could have been avoided. The language went on being flat throughout. There were no emotional niches or a raging war anywhere in the book. The narration is quiet dull. You may find yourself willing to give up on the book quiet often.

Good points

The female character is a power girl. You will find yourself loving her, that’s before she goes ahead and falls in love with the football star and turns out to be dumb as ever. 

Bad points

Ah! There are so many! The cover-page comes close to being repulsive. It just does not work. The male lead is spotless clean. Clean enough to be larger than life. The story does not seem to have any content. The failed narration of the romance between the lead characters is very annoying. The end is quite abrupt. Let me stop here!

Overall

This book is not what I expected it to be. It lacks the depth. The book seems like a lazy attempt on the author’s part. 

Who do I recommend this to

Those who like a powerful female lead may come to like this book. This is definitely about the girl power. 

Quotable quotes

I expected to feel awkward or paranoid from all the eyes on us, but walking with Brett felt comfortable, natural.
Right, like we belonged together.
Yeah. I’d fallen for him.
Hard.
But I was still too proud to admit it. Just call me Mr. Darcy.

My first tweet: “Hormones suck, but damn they feel good at times.”

“Besides”, he continued, his voice turning slow and seductive, “there’s objectification of women as an object of appetite, and then there’s the worship of women as an equal partner in mutual desire.” 

Pride and Prejudice: I lost myself in the world of manners and miscommunication, of country dances and grand Regency balls. 

I stared at him like he’d grown another head. “But it’s like the most caveman-macho thing out there.”
“No, it’s not”. He pointed to the players who were warming up on the field. “Think about it. A bunch of guys wearing tight pants, slapping each other on the ass, tackling each other to the ground. The only thing that’s more gay is wrestling.” 

Pillow Talk by Freya North

This British Author is widely known for her wide array of writing most of which are loved under the chic-lit/romance category. She quit her PhD in Art to write her first novel, which later became a reason for her to be noticed by bibliophiles who love romances.

Sally was the first novel by Freya North followed by Chloe  and many others making her a hit among romance-lovers. Chloe is one of those books that I’d read time and again at different stages of life sheer for its story and the way in which the journey of Chloe has been captured.

Left with a letter and a small inheritance Chloe embarks on a journey that takes her through the scenic countryside in the UK. Simply put it is her journey through four seasons, four places and four men before she finally finds her true calling. It is a journey of growth, self realization and finding her man for all seasons.

Pip, another novel by North sets it apart from other stories simply due to the lead character. How often does one get to read about the life of a lady clown?  Another story about self discovery, finding love and building long lasting relationships ,Pip is everything a Freya North book should be. 

The third one that I’ve read by Freya North  Pillow Talk displays the same appealing style of writing and a heart warming plot line that is signature to this British Author. She won the Best Romantic Novel award for this one in 2008 , and without further ado lets get on with the review for the same.

Cover

Like most covers of North, Pillow Talk has its title and the author’s name highlighted boldly with extremely feminine graphics supporting it. A water color illustration of a girl – the lead adorns the front page.

I wouldn’t be too sure about how I can judge it  personally, because a large  part of me finds the cover unappealing, but again its her style and plot line that I have time and again read and adored, so the cover have little influence on me. Having said that it wouldn't be wrong to say that it would seem unappealing to a larger audience, for it comes off as a rather mushy romance.

Characters

Pillow Talk revolves around Petra, a jewelry designer & Arlo, her lost childhood sweetheart. The other characters in the book are Petra’s friends/workmates, her parents, Arlo’s friends/workmates and a long gone friend of Petra, Mrs. Lilian.

Helen, the ex-beau of Arlo and Miranda, a co-worker has someone Arlo has a fling with play significant characters in the book.

I see her walking by herself

in a dream among the flowers ,

won’t she wake

won’t she wake

and see how I wait for her.

Is she walking all alone

is she lonely in the flowers

can I wake her and take her

with me through the flowers 

out of her dreams

and into mine

out of her dreams

and into mine .

Content

Everyone comes with a baggage–so do Arlo and Petra. Petra suffers from  Somnambulism–a condition where she walks in her sleep. With a relationship turned bitter due to her now ex-boyfriend cheating on her, Petra on the prodding of her friends  moves to the beautiful locales to heal, work and bounce back to normalcy.

While on her healing escapade, she encounters Arlo–her lost childhood sweetheart, earlier a singer in a band but now a music teacher in a residential school which he takes up to lead a life of solitude and to stay away from everything that continues to haunt him.

Pillow Talk is a journey of love, misconceiving lust as love, betrayal, self realization and growth and of course, finding and holding on to the one you love.

Language

Written from a third person’s perspective, Pillow Talk is written in typical British style. With local dialect interwoven with British English, the language is pleasant and is very reader friendly.

Good Points

As most romances focus on love and encapsulate how love blossoms, books by North are not just a saga of love but also takes one on the journey of the protagonists.

Like most books by  North, Pillow Talk takes readers through the lives of characters- not just love, but life with all its highs and lows. A realistic portrayal of the characters – the good, bad and the ugly, the  book is more of an insight on how we yearn for love, the mistakes we make, the consequences of these  and how love always finds it’s way no matter what.

Petra suffers from Somnambulism, and this book gives an up and close and realistic insight on the same.

It is a heart warming portrayal of how love is not merely depicted in terms of making love or typical acts that scream love, but how love helps one grow, face their demons and lay them to rest.

Bad points

Like most of North’s books the undertone of the book is exactly just like all others- it’s about how two very ordinary people find each other, find themselves, find each other and how love helps each other heal and grow.

The book is a very detailed description of the emotions, life and events of the leading characters, which sometimes can be annoying to great such great details some of which might seem insignificant in the larger picture.

Lastly, the cover is not particularly attractive, and it would definitely not make it to many shelves if one were to judge the book by its cover.

Overall

Though I’d confess to being a hopeless lover of all things romance, I have somewhere outgrown mushy romances and Pillow Talk  is one such books that gives the reader more than just mere romance.

A breezy light read, this one makes one hopeful that love truly finds it’s way and gives to us a person who helps one grow, heal and blossom into someone better.

Who do I recommend this to?

If you are the one who thrives on romance, Freya North in general, and Pillow Talk specifically should be on your list already.

Quotable Quotes

He liked who he’d been back then.The keenness, the naivety, the energy and the optimization for the future, for life, for the mystery of love.

She has no compulsion to do anything other than come to your rescue. She puts her life on hold as she steps into your shoes to fight your corner for you. Because she can feel your pain, so she can take just a little bit of it away. She wont mince her words or indulge you, she'll talk to you straight and tell it how it is. But she ll also intersperse her constructive help to there-there you like a mother.

‘Better to be on your own than settling for so little. You shouldn't be with Rob to make yourself feel better, because I am telling you, Rob did not love you as you should be loved.’

You re beautiful and gorgeous and it would be wrong to settle for anyone less than a man who adores you.

‘I don't want to be alone. I don't want to be be on my own.'

‘That's why you worked so hard on Rob. Not because he was worth it but because you didn't want to be on your own.'

It wasn't heartbreak really, it was humiliation. My heart isn't actually broken-it was mostly my pride that took a pounding.

Petra loved her mobile phone. Life was good when one could stroll around miles from home with a pocketful of friends.

Sod the meters of red tape & the  myriad permission slips  & miles of motorway – I had to see you. Because I need to tell you that we’re going to be OK, you know, You & Me. We are going to be more than OK.

Pursue you dreams - especially when you think they are getting away from you.

You know in my vast and colorful experience, I have come to the conclusion that all boys are daft bastards. It is actually down to us to tell them how they are feeling. Bless them – they wouldn't know otherwise.

‘I dont know if love conquers all, Arlo. But it certainly provides us with a blanket to comfort our woes and the Armour to face our battles.'

A dozen damsels we love.

One of the things a bibliophile is guilty of is falling in love with characters who have been brought to life by our favorite authors. While some are irrevocably in love with that ideal man/woman from their favorite books, some others seek inspiration from some memorable characters who give us useful insights on life and the like.

Celebrating the spirit of womanhood this entire month, here is our  pick of our favorite dozen of women straight out of  the books that we absolutely adore. While some are symbols of inspiration and bravery, some others though not extraordinary in the true sense of it still give us life-lessons and  their journey and growth is extremely relatable in the most elemental way.

Jean Louise Finch (Scout)- To kill a Mockingbird / Go set a Watchman

Harper Lee has created a very impacting character in Jean Louise a.k.a Scout. Apart from being a courageous  and curious one, she has an adventurous and humorous side too, which makes her even more appealing to the readers and a definite look-out.

Scout has portrayed, in numerous incidents, that she can definitely take care of herself but her otherwise  romantic streak makes her all the more adorable. A compassionate one too, which we can see in her  behavior towards her father, her small town and her people, Scout has always given me the hope that  no matter what changes in one's life, one should always stay connected to his roots and his self.

Scarlett O’Hara – Gone With the Wind

Life during a civil war calls for choices to be made. These choices define us. While Rhett Butler maybe infamous for the choices he made during the war, he is has decide to love a woman fiercely, and Scarlett doesn’t deserve anything less than the uproar of ‘Aphrodite’ himself. Scarlett is naive. She is spoilt and stupidly in love with a boy who will soon go off to war. Civil wars are not for the ones like her but she is meant to survive it, any which way. Married to three men in her life, she seems to cast a spell. Men seem to fall for her every time she walks past but she craves for only one- The one she can never have. She is strong when she needs to be and a flower when she craves. Scarlett O’Hara is one of her kind.

The author died before she realized she has given a book to be remembered for generations to come. Scarlett was a female lead that everyone anticipated for during that time and the author fulfilled the wish, and how!

Anne Shirley -Anne of Green Gables.

Anne  was introduced to the world in 1908  as the lead of the novel Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. At the age of eleven, Anne was sent from the Hopetown orphanage to the neighbouring province. Unfortunately, she was sent there by mistake as her sponsors, the siblings duo she ends up living with wanted to adopt a boy to help them on their farm.

Thus begins the journey of this innocent girl who has zeal for life that will make you fall in love with her instantly. She is everything you and I are – quirky, naive, prone to mistakes, and holding on to dreams & working on them tirelessly while growing affectionate bonds with people around her which might be another reason why one can relate to her instantly.

From a naive orphan blending into the town to growing into a fine lady, and her journey all the way, Anne is a lead  in Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne's House of Dreams, Anne of Windy Poplars and Anne of Ingleside. All these books trace the life and journey of this girl which touches one’s heart in the most gentle ways as every phase that is documented in these books is very relatable in the most intimate way.

Margo Roth Spiegelman – Paper Towns

Quentin believes that everyone gets one miracle in their life. While he may not land in outer space or become a pop star, he has Margo Roth Spiegelman living next door, which is his miracle. Margo is an enigmatic character. Her life is filled with epic adventures. She has spent three weeks with a circus and could have been the girlfriend of a bassist of a popular band. Margo reads. She quotes Whitman. She wants to live her whole life like today is the last day. She is a great friend to have. She rains fire on her enemies and leaves her signature after every attack. She might as well be a ninja.

John green is known for his epic characters and this particular book has been no disappointment. Thank you Mr. Green for giving us Margo. We shall always cherish her!

Laila-The Thousand Splendid Suns

 

One of the protagonists in "The Thousand Splendid Suns", Laila is another character that takes us through her journey and how sometimes  accepting the situations we are in, and making the best of it seems to be the best option.

The absence of both of Laila's older brothers, who have gone to war makes her a smart and sensible girl for her age and  fills her with a sense of purpose.

Laila wishes to use her intelligence and education to for the betterment of the world around her. Falling in love with her best friend at the age of 15, she loses him too as he flees the country due to the war. Continuing to lose her loved ones to war, Laila's parents are also a victim of a rocket attack which leaves her wounded after which she is nursed  back to health by a childless couple.

Laila's idealism and independence are challenged when she decides to marry Rasheed in order to give her unborn child by Tariq a father. The book takes us on a journey of the growth of  this young girl and how the war and the situations she is thrown into, change her. It throws light on how motherhood changes Laila, and how  she is willing to accept limitations  she once would have  mocked. While this character  ranges between varied frequencies which are not necessarily progressive, it shows how in life often the situations we are in bring us down, change our course and make us question every action we take.

Sabina-The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Individuality. That is the perfect description of the character woven by Milan Kundera in his novel "The Unbearable Lightness of Being". Sabina is the one who sees beyond what a common man can see, who perceives notions which the average cannot. Her artistic nature gives her character an added depth that gets to your soul and at the same time leaves you abandoned with her queries about the betrayal hidden behind the concept of idealism.

Every decision she made, and every move  she chose got her closer to her longing for betrayal, or let's say, her longing to not cast away her thoughts to the oblivion existence of idealism. Her journey of and to this spiritual realm, is what got to me.

Jenny – Love Story

Jenny is a commoner. She is smart, witty and passionate. She loves music and despises men who don't. Jenny is everything Oliver with a roman number behind him,  shouldn't fall for. But he does and then begins an epic love saga. Jenny is easily the most loved female character in a love story. She provides the backbone for the entire story and teaches us what love means- never having to say that your are sorry. 

Jenny makes the book a classic and Eric Segal immortalized her.

Katniss Everdeen - Hunger Games Series

Katniss Everdeen here has a great responsibility on her shoulders. She is the sole breadwinner in her family and a life support for her little sister. As a heroine Katniss is very different from other characters that we read about. She is a regular teenager in a dystopian world where she is trying to live by. And one picking changes her life altogether. She is commanded by the fierce instinct to protect her sister. She is brave, she can shoot a bird in the eye and she can fight for survival.

Katniss Everdeen is one of the strongest women in literature. She evolves during the course of the story which makes her all the more interesting. The world of literature owes to Suzanne Collins.

Nancy Drew- Nancy Drew Mystery Stories

She’s the daughter of famous mystery case attorney and it looks like flair for crime runs in the family. This daring 16 year old  has from the very beginning posed a fine  challenge to gender stereotypes as she has to criminals that she goes after.

A University of Iowa conference devoted to Nancy Drew declared that she was a true role model for young girls, citing her 'physical courage' as one particularly positive.She is not just brave, confident and daring but also polite, caring, sensitive and kind. In addition, she is a thoughtful daughter.

Be it tackling situations usually reserved  for her male literary counterparts, or showing her sharp intuitive skills as a crime solver, Nancy Drew is one of those female crime solvers who has inspired the likes of me to fall in love with mysteries and thrillers.  She is a fine mix of characters and traits, and she is portrayed as a girl skilled with auto mechanics as well as cooking, horseback riding, dancing, sewing and athletics.  She is a lead character in the Nancy Drew Series by  Edward Stratemeyer, and remains an inspiration for little girls getting hooked to stories dedicated to her field of interest.

Dominique Francon-The Fountainhead

 

When Ayn Rand introduces and character to her novel, they depict the path the  entire novel progresses through. Dominique, is a dark and mysterious character. Her idea of living, of shielding  herself from being hurt or disappointed and her fear of losing things or people  that make her happy is what intrigued me while reading the novel.

Although the  novel has set a certain frame for the protagonist, Howard Roark (a definite  favorite character again), Dominique's journey to self-discovery eventually  leads the reader to the another exceptional concept behind this novel. From surrounding herself with bitter people and memories so as to keep herself from being hurt if she loses  the people she actually loves, Dominique's ways definitely stand out in this novel, which  has managed to grow around so many other characters.

Hermione Jean Granger - Harry Potter series.

Hermione is a fictional character in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series.

She is one of the most famous and loved character in this fantasy fiction. A person with in-born magical abilities born to normal humans, she is chosen for her abilities to attend the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hermione does show us that being smart is not only cool but desirable.

She is everything that we seek in a friend, like when Harry is overwhelmed by the pressure  surrounding him, it is Hermione that never gives up nor does she let her friends give up.It is Hermione that is the constant source of 'we can do this - we can survive'.

Another significant feature is that Hermione is flawed, she is ruthless, casts reckless spells with no remorse  etc but these are the qualities that make her likable and relatable as nobody real has ever been a perfect person. It is not only unrealistic, but unfair, to create the idealistically perfect character and hence it is characters like Hermione that make us realize that every one is flawed, every one makes mistakes and how one must gracefully accept their moments of shortcomings. All in all, she is one of those magical characters who casts a spell on us with not only how extra ordinary she is,  but how truly ordinary she can be which nonetheless does not stop her from being the ideal girl who is our hero (err…heroine).

Arjumand Banu a.k.a Mumtaz Mahal- Taj

Arjumand is the love interest of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, and among many novels, Taj by Timeri Murari is a winner for me. The sheer intensity of this love story set in the royal Mughal household amidst politics, rebellion and greed for power is very gripping.

She is no warrior but a woman to reckon with nevertheless. It always intrigued me to understand how intense could love be, if it manifested itself into a building that is the greatest symbol of love, and it is Arjumand, later known as Mumtaz Mahal who answers my questions.

This pretty lass revolted for love, her faith in love for her Prince even when he is married off is commendable. The determination and dedication with which she loves unites her with her King. The book takes us on the journey of this innocent girl who falls in love with the Prince, waits for him to wed her against the very will of the king , and continues to love him intensely through her lifetime.

She may have never waged a war in the battlefield, but she always accompanied her King to most of his wars, as unpleasant as the conditions would be due to war and also due to her constantly bearing children.

Her journey, all for the sake of love often makes me ponder on the significance of it. Is love truly so consuming that one could go all the way for it? and Arjumand here answers for me, that yes love is all consuming and everything that is done for love, and with love is never an ordeal. Often when one says that behind every successful man is a woman and Arjumand’s life proves this.

P.S: The pictures used are either artist impressions or actors immortalizing the characters and are used for representation purpose only!

Rainbow by Aman Jassal

The famous saying “The pen is mightier than the sword” has been proved right time and again. Though used in a different and a more critical  context otherwise , it rightly signifies how  powerful words are and how significant they are in molding and shaping minds.

Having read different genres by different writers, I for one strongly believe that each word that is read by an individual is consciously or subconsciously shaping his thoughts, and hence the person who intends to write is shouldering a massive responsibility of shaping the mind of his readers and it is simply unfair to feed bookworms with nothing but the finest content, language and emotions.

However, Rainbow by Aman Jassal is one of those books that make me grateful for books that are considered even borderline mediocre by most standards.

Cover

The white backdrop is  adorned with plenty of graphics that signify love and romance. Right from the colors to the  images used, it screams ROMANCE.  The graphics makes me wonder that maybe the designer could not decide what was more romantic - entwined hands or a love-filled hug completed with balloons so he decided to use both, and in addition to that the title is  written across the front in “kum-kum” red, yet another colour signifying love.

The cover is rather unappealing as it is neither pleasant nor is it drawing me to it enough to want to know what the book is about, on the contrary it screams desperation-desperation to be the next romance that the masses would swear by.

Characters

A love story gone wrong , this is a story of Yuvi, a young man in love, who does not seem to have any control over his sexual drive and Simran, his love interest. This girl next door (no, not the phrase, she actually lives next door!) has Yuvi floored by her flawless beauty, right from the moment he sets eyes on her.

The story revolves around these two characters along with annoyingly loud friends who seem to have nothing more significant to do than have lewd conversations, an over protective girl pal of the leading lady, her parents, his work mates and the ladies who seem to have no difficulty in seducing the lead character, and of course the landlord-the Aunty-ji.

Content

As the summary says, it is not a love story but more of an insight on how things can go severely wrong when love is overshadowed by temporary and shallow priorities like lust and attraction.

An engineer living in another town leading a very mundane life sets eyes on his very beautiful neighbor who comes home  occasionally from a neighboring town where she studies at.  Wooing her into falling in love with him all for a bet, Yuvi himself falls for her simple ways and flawless beauty.

However, this apparent love of his does not seem to be a reason enough  for him to be loyal, and he goes on to give in to women who seduce him into infidelity rather easily.

What follows is a tale of him being in love, cheating on the woman he loves due to his lack of resolve, the guilt trip to repentance, only to do it again and to finally lose her and realize the enormity of his loss and drowning in self pity after having been confronted with the truth.

Language

I have always been vary of reading the new generation Indian authors simply due to the pathetic language most writers feel is “cool” to use, and this book would be the right example to defend my stand.

Written from Yuvi’s perspective, the language and tone of the book is extremely annoying. Lousy translations of phrases from Hindi to misspelt words, badly framed sentences to trashy, mindless conversations-this book covers it all.

He is very much frustated, and I got feared if he got any hint about Anita’s adultery? Naaaa…she is that smart, can even do that every day without Mr.Gandhi doubting her once…

I made a few excuses to calm her down. It’s not that difficult to put a girl in bottle especially when she thinks that she is the boss….

I kept silent on that, still the age gap and all, stopped me from getting fully open with her.

Good points

Though as I read the book I was convinced that I had nothing to mention in this category, but on retrospection there surely is. The lead character Yuvi , and his weak resolve are rather realistic.

His philandering ways represent to us that one guy who we all know  that has next to no self control or enough sensibility to value and cherish the love and trust he is bestowed with.

Bad points

Starting from the very unappealing cover page, the book is more of an example of how books should not be written or made. The basic idea of bringing to fore the after effects of infidelity is rather interesting but the plot is a mere fabric of different over-dramatic scenes straight out of movies woven together.

From the dramatically gorgeous Simran, to falling in love with her after wooing her over a bet, from being seduced by a boring boss’s very hot wife to making out with the friend’s ex-girlfriend who always had a thing for the “hero”, every incident aspires to be the perfect movie scene that makes up most cheesy movies in Bollywood (No offence, grew up on them!).

What could’ve  been a portrayal of the turmoil one goes through when torn between love and lust or the thought process of the one who cheats without much thought, this book is a lousy attempt at capturing how it is so easy for a man to give in to his temptations, regret for a while only to do it again without a second thought and then drown in self loathing and regret when caught in the act.

It wouldn't be exaggerating, if I claim this to be a very thoughtless portrayal of how easy it is to cheat, followed by shallow and temporary regret only to do it again. Having said that I  do not mean that all books on this subject are so, in fact many books written on betrayal and infidelity explore depths of the situation, give insights on the minds of the people and help us understand why a person chose that course of action, rather than just portraying infidelity like a cool thing to do, without thinking too much about the consequence.

The highlight of the book remains the language, and having covered that already I am sure you have a fair idea about what I mean.

Overall

Most of us would agree that at some point of time in our lives we feel either our lives or situations around us are dramatic enough to be written about. Most of us let go of the idea as quickly as it came to us.

However, Rainbow seems like one of those ideas that was taken rather seriously. From the language to the content  to the impact you intend to have on the audience, each element is more significant than the other in order to give a wholesome  & enriching experience to the readers, at which this book fails miserably!

As a writer, one is not only penning his story he is also shaping the minds of the individuals reading the book and it is simply unfair to the readers to give to them characters that lack character, badly formed sentences and content that looks more like a wannabe movie script, a bad one at that.

Who do I recommend it to ?

Editors, proof-readers and all aspiring writers, just to understand how to not write a book.

King Of Hearts by Prassant Kevin

We, the readers, are required to raise our expectations. Unless we raise our expectations we are going to be fed all the written, unrefined words that are the result of a stunted imagination and dwarfed expression. These are more or less the words of the author Prassant Kevin. It makes us, the readers, proud of what we do. It places us on a pedestal where we are superior to many others, where we are honored with a responsibility to decide what we want to read. Not only decide, but also be outrageous and demand it. The author has set himself apart from others who never ask readers to challenge what they are biting into. Respect. 

But as far as his own book goes, the author has lost the game. The expression that I would use is “duck out”. 

That’s the biggest problem with the alcoholics, she thought, as they always assume that alcohol will find them a solution, which never happens. The solution of the problem comes afterwards, when they wake up with shitty breath and look at their wasted self in the mirror. Its when they find a real reason to get their shit back together and find a way to work it out. And when they do, they thank alcohol again as it helped them to get back to the track and to celebrate it, they all drink again.

Cover page

On the cover page, is a suit and the cityscape fading. The color blue overpowers everything. So, someone who has a stunted vision is going to see an ocean of blue with a few sparkling lights here and there. The typography and the color combination makes the cover as unappealing as it can get. It also does not relate to the text inside, misguiding anyone. 

Characters

Ayan Kapoor is a struggling writer, who appears to have a gift. He has got a chiseled body and a special talent. He can recite the alphabets in reverse order. Apart from these two characteristics, the author has failed miserably to give a personality to the lead character. The author goes on talking about the gem of the writer Ayan is, but there is no textual evidence supporting it. A chiseled body is not required of a writer, a good thought process is. Which again is lacking in Ayan. He thinks like any normal testosterone induced twenty-something in the city. 

Misha is the lady love here. She is blunt, aggressive, protective, brash and a true blue friend. Again she can be any girl you meet anywhere. Being the love interest of the author who rules over million hearts, Misha was not given enough character. 

Content

Misha and Ayan meet at her uncle’s bar. Ayan just found out that his girlfriend was sleeping with someone else. Misha while filling in for the bartender does not try one bit, to console him. She instead offers him a full bottle of alcohol, on one condition. And thus, they become friends. 

The content of the book is everything the author does not want to see in “Indian literature”. It is the usual boy meet girl, fall in love, break hearts, get back etc. I was reading on and on and praying that there was more to the story, but sadly there isn’t. 

All we have to do is to wait with hope and patience because our job is not to find love, our real job is when love comes to us, then to protect it from going away.

Language

The story keeps shifting its POV. It is not even third person narration, as it looks at certain parts. The author has got the grammar terribly wrong. The book is filled with colloquiums. The readers are going to find the SMS language repulsive! The narration is terrible. At one point I was just reading the words and thinking of what I would like to have for dinner! 

Good points

The book has a good message about the literature scenario in India. We, the readers, are slowly settling down. We are very comfortable with what we are being fed. Unlike an era where the sages used to put their life into writing a book which is going to enlighten the entire humanity, the writers today are feeding entertainment between the pages of the book. 

Bad points

Everything. The cover page is unappealing as a frog. The shallow characterization and the cliché story line make it difficult to finish the book. The book is more like a cinema script narrative than a piece of literature. 

Overall

Overall, the book is a shabby attempt. This is the second book by the author, which makes it twice unforgivable. 

Who do I recommend this to

As of now I do not recommend this to anyone. The book needs too many refinements.

* I recieved this book from the author on goodreads giveway. It has not influenced the review at all.

MOVIE ADAPTATION II The DUFF II

  

”The DUFF“ is a book I read after I watched the trailer of the movie. The trailer was cute and the female lead seemed like she had substance. This was the reason I decided to pick up the book and read before watching the movie.

The book

The book was not what I expected. I assumed it to be an exceptional young adult romance, looking at the reviews from other bloggers. But it was a massive disappointment. Every scene in the book was meaningless. The paragraphs felt like they were forcibly put there. The romance seemed shallow. The author tried to compensate for all these with some quirky dialogues here and there, but that too got predictable at one point. I could not wait to finish the book!

The movie

The movie started out well. The female lead was quirky and always kept me on my foot. The male lead was someone I disliked the most! His characterization was also little skewed I felt. I mean how could he have been a player if he was a pet to the most famous girl in the school? The two friends of Bianca had little part to play in the movie. They were just sprinkled there to make the screen look pretty. Again a shallow characterization.

It has also spoilt Toby Tucker for me. He was probably the only sweet person in the entire book!

In the end, it isn’t about popularity or even getting the guy. It is about understanding that no matter what label is thrown your way, only you can define yourself.

Who wins?

Overall the movie was really shallow. If you want to watch the female lead please go ahead and watch it. I found myself regretting over wasting my time over the movie halfway.

The book is something I would not recommend to anyone who takes reading seriously. It is that bad.

Hooker Heels by Ryan Ringbloom

Ryan has been very kind to send me her book, this time around too. And I am on cloud nine. This time, I also have a set of questions which she has answered about her writing. You can find it here.

I have already said enough about it already and it is no secret that I love it. So here is the review describing different aspects of the book.

I didn't have much to add except for some flirty comments that made me look like I didn't have a brain in my head. Of course I did, but you could never let a man know that.

Cover page

This has been the trend in the books by the author. The cover pages are always very bland. But I must say I liked this cover better than all her other books. It says what it has to without revealing much. But I would still want to see a beautifully designed cover for her book. 

Characters

Zackery is a billionaire who wants to do much more than just making money. He has a special talent of turning food into work of art. He is tired of been looked through a glasses of richness. He wants to go past the money-making game and do something for the underprivileged. Also, he wants to find someone who will love him for what he is, and not because of all the wealth he has inherited. 

Kenna is a woman who had lived on the gifts showered by rich and in turn given them what they want. She is a hooker, to be blunt. Kenna is coming back from her best friend's wedding, penniless. 

Zackery longs for true love and Kenna for true money. Sounds like a match made in heaven! 

Content

The book begins when Kenna is returning from her best friend's wedding. She has no money and no place to stay considering she does not want to go back to her mother's place. She makes some quick buck on the way in a hotel and drives on. Somewhere on the way she gets a call from Tariq and it looks like she has an assignment. 

Kenna is invited by Zackery's father to keep Zack occupied till their hotel is complete. But it seems like a tough job. Zack will not settle for anything less that true love. 

The content is engrossing from the beginning. Kenna's story is gripping. She will keep you on her toes throughout. Ryan's style is very evident in this book too. 

Two women who were extremely alike in all the wrong ways were a bad combination.

Language

The narration is extremely gripping. The story flows through very smoothly. The story is narrated in first person. So you feel closer to the characters. The alternate narration helps to understand both the characters' point of view. I just love how Ryan glides through the pages. Amazing!

Good points

The characters are just beautiful. Zackery is very calculative and Kenna just keeps you going. Both of them keep you engaged throughout the book. 

The content is amazing. The story is told well. Narration is like magic. Truly wonderful! 

Bad points

The cover page is again something which does not work. I wish I had got a better cover from the author. 

Overall

Overall the book is another wonder from the author. Ryan is just getting better and better with each of her books. 

Who do I recommend this to

This book is for someone who likes off-beat romance and believes in all good things in life. Someone who likes a bit of grays among all whites, this is the book!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW II RYAN RINGLBOOM on Hooker Heels II

Short review of Hooker Heels

Hooker Heels is a story of a woman who is looking for short cuts in life. She does not believe in herself enough to work her way through things. Instead, she sleeps her way through them. Yes, she is a hooker. Kenna does not know any better. 

But then she meets Zack and everything changes. Zack is a billionaire with a heart which is priceless. She learns about bigger things in life through him and he learns her truth, not through her.

The web entangles and they go their separate ways. Only to come back to each other because nothing bad ever happens when Ryan writes the story!
order your copy here

Let's see what she has to say to us today!

1. All your characters are incredible. Where do you get inspiration to write such beautiful characters?
A. My husband is truly incredible, he is absolutely my number one inspiration while writing. Also, some of the stories are plucked right out of our real life. PANIC, in particular is very close to my heart.

2. My favorite character is Patrick among them all. Who is yours?
A. This is something I am asked all the time and it’s so hard because I do love them all. Patrick and Zack were inspired by my husband the most but Josh was absolutely the most fun to write. I love him!

3. All your characters are people suffering from love. Yet each story is different and every character so unique. Do you sometimes suffer from writers block or are you scared of repeating a character? How do you get over the fear?
A. I suffer from writer’s block all the time. All.The. Time. And I live in constant fear of repeating a character. I will often walk away and read, or go on television binges, increase my exercise, have a glass of wine (or two) just to give my brain a break, then I jump back in and keep my fingers crossed!

4. Name a Young adult author who gives you sleepless nights because she may be better than you at this?
A. Um, try all of them. LOL! Seriously, I think every book I read, I’m like, WOW, this is fantastic. But if I had to pick one that I would aspire to be just like – it would certainly be Co-Ho!! Colleen Hoover is a rock star!

5. Which author is on your auto-buy list?
A. Colleen Hoover & Abbi Glines.

6. If Hooker Heels was made into a movie who would you cast as lead characters?
A. Zackary Knight would 100% be Joe Manganiello! Tall. Big. SEXY!!!! Kenna is tougher for me, Blake Lively??? 

7. Sell your book in one sentence!
A. Spoiler, she really is a hooker.

8. Any last words?
A. Readers are everything to me. When a reader connects with one of my stories and reaches out, whether in a review or on a social media site, wherever, it’s a feeling I can’t even explain.Those words are appreciated beyond measure. Thank you to everyone who takes a chance and reads one of
my books.

Veena – I adore you!!! You are such a loyal reader who reached out and now you are one of the first people I go to when a new book is released. Thank you so much for your kindness and support!

Love, Ryan



You are amazing Ryan! Wish you all the best for the book. hope it does well too! just like the others!