Exploring the Bookish World

Richa Lakhera has penned a gripping crime thriller in her latest book, 'Hungry Gods' . The plot is dark and bold. Dark themes like sexual abuse, rape, trafficking, chemical drugs and illegal activities are dealt with in this book. The plot is set across two timelines - the first in the past in 1993 where a young child witnesses the rape and murder of his mother. And the second in the present times, where we come across Dinesh Thackrey, a powerful film director, who is shooting his new film, Healers, produced by Medici, a pharmaceutical company fraudulently manufacturing banned drugs. Neville Valentine is the superstar brand ambassador of Medici and the lead actor in the movie. As the story moves forward, there is a series of murders and almost all the characters have a dark side to them which they are secretive about. The story is gripping and full of suspense.  You have to read the book to see how all the secrets unravel and what happens next. 'Hungry...

'Unlocked Silences' by Mukhpreet Khurana is an anthology of beautifully written abstracts, poems and excerpts, which are heartfelt and emotional.  Each one of them has positive vibes and has the capacity to captivate the readers. The black minimalistic cover of the book is as beautiful as the poems are. Each one of the poems is relatable and some are deep and insightful. The poems are not very long and it did not take me a very long time to complete reading this book. All the poems and abstracts are written in a lucid language which makes it easier for the readers to read and understand them. My favourite piece from the collection is 'Life is Beautiful'. It has a positive vibe in it which I absolutely loved. 'If Everyone Cared' is another poem which I really liked. Altogether, this book was a nice read. If you are a poetry lover, this book is for you.  About the author  :   Mukhpreet Khurana has been fond of literature, poetry and pr...

'The Undying Self: Vedic Wisdom in the New Millenium' by Anthony Duart Maclean is a book that talks about the power of Vedantic knowledge in present times and it explores several dimensions of Indian philosophy. The book is divided into three parts. The first part is 'Yoga and The Bliss of Being'. It talks about India's Vedic Civilization, Key Concepts and Principles, India's Perennial Four Paths of Yoga and Vedanta. The second part is 'Manifesto Spiritual'. It discusses in detail about our inner self, identity,  the essence of spirituality, philosophy and leadership. The last and final part is 'The Primacy of Consciousness'. All the topics are extremely insightful and discussed in great detail. This book on spirituality is a great book which invites self-enquiry and also encourages the reader to reflect deeply on peace and inner well-being. In modern times when peace is hard to find, and inner peace is very rare; when most of the ...

'Where Three Empires Meet' by E.F. Knight is a travelogue set in the colonial times, when India was a colony under the British Empire.  It is a very captivating read about a region that still is a focal point of international discourse as a result of its geo-political significance, i.e., the area of Kashmir, Tibet and around. The author, in this book, talks about his year-long journey in the year 1891 into the region in and around Kashmir and Tibet, where the 'three great empires' of that time - the British, the Russian, and the Chinese - came together on the map.  This book presents very interesting details and also vivid descriptions of the local people, their lifestyle, festivals, arts, and tradition. The beautiful photographs and illustrations make the book all the more interesting. This is really an amazing book and I enjoyed reading it. Travelogues have always fascinated me and I was very excited to read this book. The authentic and detailed descript...

HarperCollins India to launch Shweta Bachchan-Nanda’s debut novel , Paradise Towers , on 10 th October 2018 HarperCollins India is delighted to announce that Shweta Bachchan-Nanda’s debut, Paradise Towers , will release on 10 th October 2018, with a book launch event in Mumbai . A heart-warming slice-of-life novel set in an apartment building in Mumbai, Paradise Towers , is a riveting read brimming with the drama and intrigue of everyday lives. The book is now available for pre-order on major online retail sites. About Paradise Towers : Dinesh opens the door to the Kapoor flat to find Lata, the enchantress who works at Mrs Aly Khan’s, carrying a hot case with freshly made gaajar ka halwa. On the first floor, the inquisitive Mrs Mody wipes the dust off her precious binoculars to spy on the building’s security guard. The Singhs open the doors of their SUV, their four boys creating a ruckus – they are the newcomers, the outsiders. Through the p...

Kavita Kane 's 'The Fisher Queen's Dynasty' is an extremely well-written mythological fiction. The author has beautifully penned the tale of the 'Fisher Queen' Matsyagandha, also known as Satyavati; her journey from an ordinary fisher-girl to the Queen of Hastinapur. The story takes us back in time when King Shantanu was the ruler of Hastinapur and his son, Devavrat, was the crowned prince. But, as fate would have it, the old King Shantanu fell in love with the young, sharp and ambitious fisher-girl, Satyavati; and Devavrat sacrificed his throne so that his father could marry the fisher-girl. And thus, the ambitious and mere fisher-girl, Matsyagandha becomes the Queen of Hastinapur, Queen Satyavati, whose dynasty was destined to rule. Mythology is one of my favourite genres and I am completely mesmerised by the way the author has narrated the tale of one of the lesser known and not-so-much discussed character of the great Indian epic Mahab...

HAPPY COVER REVEAL ********************* BLURB: Feelings are best expressed through actions. But sometimes, it can be through words too. ' Lovely Purpose' is one such book which promises to give you a glimpse of the experience of love. All fifty of these epigrams are crafted with care and attention to make sure that they are completely realistic and relatable. Let's spread love.                                                  *********************** You can pre-order the book from  Amazon . Hurry up and order now!😃😃                 

'The Sniper's Eye' by Mainak Dhar is a suspense thriller fiction. This is the first book in the series of seven books. The story is quite gripping and interesting as well. The protagonist, Aaditya Ghosh was out on a date with Zoya. All of a sudden there was a sudden shot, a high-calibre one, which was silent. And the man in front of him fell dead. Aaditya gets himself involved in the incident. Will he be able to save himself, his loved ones? Read the book to know what happens next. The plot is filled with actions and thrill. However, the pace of the story at some places was a bit slow as it was very descriptive. Also, the thrill element which one would expect in this book was a little lacking. The first half of the book seemed more interesting than the second half.  Nevertheless, the characters are well developed. And the narration is beautifully done too. Another fact which makes the book intriguing is that it highlights the theme of international politics. ...

'Work, Workers & Workplaces' by Parthajeet Sarma is an excellent book which gives the readers an idea of the radically changing nature of work, workers and workplaces using space as a starting point of innovation. The advancement of technology in the modern times is taking place in leaps and bounds. Everything around us is changing. And so is work, workers and workplaces. Technology has enabled humans to work from coffee shops and from home, reducing the need to go to work. The very meaning of work has changed for modern-day workers where the workplace is no more a physical space. In the modern world, the workplace is an amalgamation of physical and digital. The author has used real-life situations as examples. This has made the book very easy to comprehend and also very interesting. The theme of this book is very relevant. I liked the fact that how the book focuses on the need to have a comfortable working environment. I feel this is indeed absolutely necessary ...

'Songs of Cauvery' by Kalyanraman Durgadas is a beautiful book. Set in the pre-independence era, this book brings to light the actual condition of the times. The transition years between the nineteenth and the twentieth century was a time which was both politically and socially unstable. The story takes place in the fertile delta of the River Cauvery, in the town of Tiruvaiyaru, South India. Panju is a brilliant boy, who belongs to a Brahmin family. When he grows up, he decides to join the freedom movement. His sister, Janaki, was very fond of reading and had within her the quest for knowledge. She went against age-old traditions and continued her education. She became the only woman from her district to study in a college.  To know more about what happens in the lives of Panju and his sister Janaki, you have to read the book. The vivid chronicled descriptions make this book unputdownable and absolutely interesting. The plot is very well constructe...

'Kartikeya' by Anuja Chandramouli is a work of mythological fiction. The book tells us the tale about 'the mysterious and misunderstood son of Mahadeva - Kartikeya'.  Indian Mythology is a topic that really interests me. In fact, I personally feel that the whole concept of Mythology is very intriguing. There are so many different characters and numerous tales about them. Since our childhood, we have heard so much about the Gods and Goddesses. Mythology plays an important part in our life. Nevertheless, some people believe in the mythological stories, some do not. Now, coming to the book. 'Kartikeya'  tells us the tale of one of the most enigmatic gods, about whom there are not many popular stories among the masses. Most of us do not know much about him. Kartikeya.  The book traces the story of his birth, his adventures, and his deeds. Another interesting fact about this book is that the villain is not any Asura. Here the villain is Lord Indra....

Kritika Sharma's book 'The Slut Chronicles: Betrayed'  is the first book of the trilogy. The book stresses on a very serious and sensitive issue. Women in our society are often victims of 'slut-shaming'. They are judged and are tagged as 'characterless' or termed as 'slut' by the judgemental and hypercritical society of ours. This book tells the story of a successful and famous woman, Ishana. We come to know about her past life. How she had been in love and was betrayed. People around her in the big bad world try to pull her down. She has been slut-shamed and what not. Ishana faced really tough situations in her life which helped her to emerge stronger out of it.  The story is so interesting that it kept me hooked to the book. It took me a few hours to complete reading this book. Every little incident is described very well in details. The characters are relatable as well. The narration is fast paced and the author has used simple la...

'Pralay' by Vineet Bajpai is the second book of the Harappa Trilogy . It is the sequel to the book 'Harappa-Curse of the Blood River' . The story starts at the exact point where Harappa ends. The amalgamation of two genres - Mythology with Thriller spices up the book. The book begins with a summary of the events that happened so far in the previous book. This makes it a lot easier for the readers to read and comprehend even if they have not read the first part of this trilogy. The plot is quite interesting. There is action, thrill, twists and mystery everywhere in the book. The book tells the tale of different places and of different times simultaneously. Each connected to the other. One in the past and the other in the present. The past is the story of Vivasvan Pujari and his son Manu. And Manu's journey to the Black Temple. Simultaneously, the present time witnesses the story of Vidyut, the last Devta. Situations arise which leads Vidyut to explore the pas...

' Indeliberate Deliberations' by Shivansh Umatt is an anthology of heartfelt poems.  The book contains twenty poems in total. The poems are divided into four broad categories - Latency, Abyss, Frost and Froth, and Gory Musings. The poems have no fixed structure and are in the form of free verse poetry. The poems are deep and genuinely felt from the heart. Some of them are very relatable. I really loved reading some of the poems. They were indeed good! My favourite poem from the collection is 'Hollow Memory'. It is from the 'Latency Section'. The poem is really well written. The author has penned down his feelings and emotions beautifully. All the poems are written in easy language and makes it easier for the readers to read and understand the poems. Overall, the book is a nice read. Poetry lovers, you can definitely try reading this book. You won't be disappointed. About the author  :     Shivansh Umatt is a student of Bal Bharati Public ...

' The Wild Cat' by Taanya Sarma is an erotic thriller with a lot of twists in the plot. The main theme of the book is cybercrime. It is the book in the trilogy. The plot revolves around the life of a young, naive woman Tanya. Troubles come creeping into her life when she enters the online dating and chat world. A conman Sam traps an investment banker, Aaron. He uses him as a pawn in his game, to lure women. When Tanya comes across these two men, she understands that there's something fishy. Will she be successful in bringing down the racket? The theme is very apt in the modern world, as the online world is full of deceit and duplicity. One has to be very careful in the virtual world. Dating apps are at soaring popularity. And this online world can sometimes be unsafe for young people, especially women. The author did a commendable job in spinning the plot around the topic which throws adequate light to this burning problem. It was really different. The charac...

'When Broken Hearts Meet' by Arushi Vats is a beautifully written romance fiction. This is the second book by the author after 'Fragile Strings', a collection of poems. The plot is quite simple without many complexities. The protagonist, Avanti, has a dreadful past that still haunts her. This has left her broken. Her life takes a turn when she meets Suhaas and they become friends. But Suhaas too has disturbed past which, like Avanti, left him broken. Avanti and Suhaas are mutually attracted towards each other. However, both are troubled at heart due to their past relationships and are afraid to commit. Meanwhile, Avanti's ex-boyfriend turns up and creates a mess.  Will Avanti and Suhaas be able to clear the mess and move forward in their lives? Will they be able to muster the courage, confess their love, and mend their broken hearts?  Read the book to know what happens next in their lives. This book tells a perfect tale of friendship and l...

Ankita Verma Datta's debut fiction novel, 'Trust Me Not', has all the elements needed to make a book an absolute five-star read. It's perfect in every way. The storyline is very gripping and enthralling. The genre of this cannot be specified as it has touches of a political thriller as well as romantic fiction in it. Reeva Rai is the protagonist. She is a rising corporate star. When she comes across the dashing, attractive and enigmatic billionaire, Kunaal Kabi, she is completely swept off her feet. The two of them forms a strong bond as both of them are equally attracted towards each other. But, Reeva is asked to join the sub-division of her company, which is a PR agency. And to her utter surprise, she finds that her boss is none other than Kunaal. It becomes all the more difficult for Reeva to work under him, as they develop feelings for each other. But the situation takes a turn when Reeva tries to help Nandita Sahay, a social activist for an important...

'When Opposites Meet' by Sachin Garg is a romantic fiction, which also has comic elements in it. The story is about six individuals whose lives are interlinked. Ritwika Dua is a wheelchair-bound girl who suffers from severe muscle atrophy. She lives with her mother Indu and cousin brother Jayant. Her professor, Lokesh Nair finds out and informs her that her muscle atrophy is caused due to a rare genetic disease, Lamin Gene Mutation. Ritwika comes across Chetan Jadhav, who is a national-level athlete. He too suffers from the same genetic disease but in his case, the muscles are extremely well-developed. He is physically the opposite of Ritwika. But gradually, a strong bond develops between them. Indu Dua, when she meets Professor Nair, falls in love with him. He too feels the same for her. Jayant is a very quiet young guy, who was deeply shocked at his parents' sudden demise. But his life changes when he meets Aditi Sharma, an extrovert and happy-go-lucky girl. She...

Hello everyone! Hope you guys are doing great. I am back with another Author Interview Session. And today, we have with us here, Arushi Vats . She has authored two books. One is a collection of poems, and her latest release is a novel. I loved her debut work, i.e., the collection of poems, 'Fragile Strings' . Here's the link to my review of the book:   https://exploringthebookishworld.blogspot.in/2017/12/book-review-7-fragile-strings-by-arushi.html  . Arushi's new book, 'When Broken Hearts Meet' has recently released. So, today we are gonna discuss her new book, and a lot more! Me: Hello and welcome to my blog. Firstly I would like to congratulate you on your new book. Tell us something about the book. Arushi: Thank you very much! My book is a romance fiction novel. It is based on two college students, Avanti, the protagonist and Suhaas, the happy go lucky guy. The story goes like this that Avanti meets Suhaa...