Exploring the Bookish World

Based on the origin myth of the South Indian state of Kerela and its people, N. Mohanan's  What the Rains Foretold  narrates the mythical tale of the highly accomplished scholar, Vararuchi. The book has been translated into English from the Malayalam original Innaathe Mazha by Manoj Neelkanthan. The tragic story of Vararuchi evokes pity and makes the readers contemplate. The young scholar Vararuchi refused the coveted position of the Roya  Pundit at the King's court and decided to embark on a journey in pursuit of truth and knowledge. While on his journey, he happened to hear a prophecy which stated that he was destined to marry a Pariah girl. On hearing this, he was distraught  and tried to prevent it by subverting fate. Years later, he got married to the beautiful and gifted daughter of a Brahmin, Panchami.  However, Vararuchi was unable to escape from the clutches of fate. As fate would have it, he comes to know that Panchami is the same child of the Pariah c...

Packed with action, thrill and suspense, Sinbad and the Tomb of Alexander is a brilliant retelling of the adventures of Sinbad the Sailor, from the classic One Thousand and One Nights. This is the second book in the series After saving the world from Armageddon, Sinbad finds himself in the midst of another thrilling adventure! Sinbad has been bestowed with another important responsibility. Along with his friends, who accompany him in his quest, Sinbad has to procure the Water of Life. And in order to find that, he has to locate the three stones which will lead him to the Tomb of Alexander the Great, where the Water of Life is hidden. But Sinbad has a number of perilous encounters on his way - the Viking warriors, the Chinese alchemists, and even creatures of the dark! Will Sinbad and his crew be successful in their mission this time? You'll have to read the book to find out! Sinbad and the Tomb of Alexander is a tale of friendship, courage, sacrifice, heartbreaks and finding hope a...

Translated from the Urdu novel  Barf Aashna Parindey , Birds of the Snows by Tarannum Riyaz tells the poignant tale of a Kashmiri family.  The novel mainly focuses on the life of Sheba, the youngest daughter of Chowdhury Najam Khan and Suraya Begum. Sheba is very different from her sisters and perceives life very differently. She desires freedom and knowledge. The various situations she faces in life help her come to terms with the responsibilities of life. Her decisions and the choices she makes for herself reflect her strong set of values and ideals. The author has brilliantly explored Sheba's relationship with various other characters in the novel. The wise and ambitious young woman has several sides to her character. She tries her best to fulfil her duties as a loving daughter, a sister, an aunt, a friend, and a student. She possesses a warm heart, a pleasant personality and has a deeply humanitarian and compassionate side to her character.  Besides Sheba, there are s...

Indira Goswami's Five Novellas about Women  brings to light the deplorable conditions of the marginalised section of the society. Translated from Assamese into English by Dibyajyoti Sarma, the five novellas in this anthology give voice to those who are often left unheard. The stories mainly focus on the plight of women. Women - marginalised, and oppressed by the society. The author portrays the lives of the rural poor, the plight of the urban underclass, and how the powerless are treated. Issues like widowhood, and female sexuality are prominent themes of her stories. The stories are a  raw representation of the harsh realities and deftly addresses the issues the women face.  Each of the stories shakes the readers to the very core. Most of the stories set in the North-Eastern state of Assam, transports the readers to a different world altogether. The brilliant writing style further makes the book an engrossing read.  Five Novellas about Women by Indira Goswami, trans...

An anthology of short poems, Deepika Bhardwaj's Subtle explores the theme of love and its afflictions.  The book is divided into two sections - The Fall and The Rise. As is quite evident from the titles, the first section 'The Fall' is about the sufferings, despair. 'The Hope' is all about rediscovering oneself and emerging stronger - it's about being hopeful.  The poems trace the emotional journey of romantic love - from falling in love to falling apart. The illustrations that accompany each of the poems are really beautiful. They are in perfect sync with the poems.  A very short and easy read, you can complete reading the entire book in a few hours.  If you enjoy reading micro tales and haiku, this book is for you.  About the author:   Deepika Bhardwaj can usually be found reading a book, and that book will more likely than not be a poetry book. She is an MBBS student and has written various articles and poems on topics crucial to gender equality, co...

The Sword of Kalki,  which is the first book in the Kalyug series, is an interesting read which combines both the genres - mythology and teenage drama. The protagonist - Reyansh, aka Rey, is a 17-year-old student, who does not believe in the mythological tales of the Gods and Goddesses. Although he grew up listening to mythological stories, he does not believe in them. But his life takes a turn when he arrives at  Guru Parshuram's Ashram. As the story progresses,  he realizes that the asurs and the devas are indeed real and he comes from a long line of one of the devas himself.   This is the author's debut novel. The plot was very well developed, and it was quite unpredictable. This book is a perfect combination of mythology, drama, action, adventure and comedy as well. There are a number of humorous instances in the book. It was a really fascinating read and has the ability to keep the readers hooked till the very end. However, the narrative technique could have bee...

Kartikeya Ladha's latest book,  Life Unknown - A Passage Through India  narrates the tale of the author's journey across the Indian subcontinent. However, this book is not just a travelogue, it is deeply philosophical and spiritual as well. The book begins in Ladakh. The author has brilliantly portrayed the untamed beauty of the Himalayan Mountains. The vivid description of the scenic beauty makes the book all the more interesting to read. The book is divided into three sections - describing the author's journey across various parts of northern as well as southern India.  Life Unknown - A Passage Through India, is not only about the author's journey across different places in India. It is also about the author's spiritual journey. The way he went on a different path, the path which is greater than materialistic possessions which human beings blindly chase. This really makes us think. Life Unknown - A Passage Through India is the author's second book after  Dream...

A collection of a hundred short poems - Rushali Mukherjee's Moon Child is a simple, yet wonderful read. Poignant and powerful, each one of the poems is soul-stirring.  The author has brilliantly described a host of feelings and emotions through her poems. The poems reflect a myriad of themes - ranging from love, loss, yearning, to nature and so much more. In her book, not only has the author given words to the diverse emotions, she has wonderfully portrayed them through her sketches as well. The hand-drawn sketches that accompany each of the poems are aesthetic and exceptionally beautiful.  Moon Child is the first book that I've completed reading in 2021. And I am so glad that I picked this beautiful book as the first read of this year. Written in simple and lucid language, this book is a very easy read. It took me just a few hours to complete reading this book. And I thoroughly loved reading it. Overall,  Moon Child by Rushali Mukherjee is a lovely read, that I absolutel...

  A fascinating novella, The Emperor: Live The Dream,  is an allegorical tale. It narrates the journey of the penguin-Em. In the frozen continent of Antarctica, lived a baby penguin, Em. He had big dreams. s he grew up, he was sceptical, he procrastinated. The other members of his tribe thought that his dream was impossible to achieve. But one day, Em did set off on a journey to pursue his dream. He faced tremendous difficulties and a number of tumultuous circumstances on his way.  Could Em succeed in his journey? Read the book to know about Em's exceptional adventure... Em's journey can be interpreted as the journey of life. An adventure with a goal to achieve in the end. A journey which is filled with challenges and difficulties. The final goal can be achieved only if one keeps going, braving every difficulty one faces on the way. And Em the penguin did just that. He kept going no matter what. The Emperor: Live The Dream is a motivational tale. Em's journey is very...

Unique and gripping,  Quaker by Rohan Singhvi is a thriller which focuses on cartel rivalry, mafia and gang wars. set in Warem, a fictional country in Southern Europe, the book tells the tale of Rick Quaker.  This short and crisp read is quite interesting.  Characters in this book are developed brilliantly. Each of the characters is provided with a detailed background description. This character-driven narrative is simple yet focuses on the internal struggles of the character. The writing style and the use of lucid language make this book a very easy read. The use of witty dialogues makes it all the more interesting to read. The book begins with an introduction to the characters. The writing conventions that are used in the book are also described in detail so that the readers can easily comprehend the story.  The entire plot is divided into four seasons, which are further divided into several episodes. I would love to see this book adapted into a series or movi...

Brink is the English translation of the popular Kannada novel ' Anchu ' by S.L. Bhyrappa. Translated by R. Ranganath Prasad, Brink  is a psychological fiction which addresses an important issue - mental health. The plot centres around two lives - Somasekhar and Amrita. Somasekhar, an architect by profession,  is a widower, Amrita a university lecturer, is an estranged woman. She lives with her two children. The two fall in love with each other. But their journey is not an easy one as Amrita goes through bouts of depression, sudden mood swings and suicidal tendencies. Somasekhar loves Amrita unconditionally and tries to anchor her life, while she goes through a whirlwind of emotions. The book gives a detailed description of Amrita's feelings, the pain she goes through, and how Somasekhar tries to help her with his sincere love for her. The plot is really interesting and profound. However, there's one major aspect of this book which made it quite a tedi...

  A collection of 101short poems, Neeraja Kona's  Waves, Sand & Magic  is a thought-provoking read. Life and love are the two main themes on which the poems are based.  This book is not just a collection of poems. Each poem is accompanied by a beautiful photograph. The presentation is wonderful. The author has brilliantly depicted the emotions in very few words, through her poems. It seems like the author has captured a moment, a feeling in words. Each one is unique in its own way. The words echo love, pain, disappointment, gratitude, - that constitute the journey of life.  The title of the book-  Waves, Sand & Magic  - perfectly captures the theme of the book. Among the hundred-and-one poems, some of my favourites are -Becoming, Within, Bridge, Airport, Paradox, Flirt, Chase, and Signs.  It is a very short read. It took me just a few hours to complete reading the entire collection. I not only loved reading the poems but also the beautiful...

  A Plate of White Marble   (Bengali:  Swet Pathorer Thala ) by Bani Basu , is an important read. It was originally written in Bengali and was first published in 1990. The book is translated to English for the first time by Nandini Guha . The book tells the story of Bandana - a young, educated and modern woman who loses her husband at a very young age. The author begins with a description of a North-Kolkata Bengali household, the house at Number 45 Shyambazar Street; in the year 1955. Bandana is the widowed daughter-in-law of the house. She is just 27. She is being forced to lead a life of austerity as a "virtuous widow", by her in-laws. However, Bandana eventually stops confirming to the orthodox traditions which were being forced upon her. She devotes her life for the sake of her only son, Roop. But... Life is unpredictable. It takes the most surprising turn when it is least expected. Bandana's life takes a turn when her uncle arrives at her house. Unable to ...

A collection of fantastic tales which takes the readers to a completely different world; the stories of the wonderful bond shared between children and animals; with beautiful illustrations to accompany each of the tales - Olga Perovskaya 's Kids and Cubs  is an absolutely delightful read. Although it is considered to be a part of children's literature, I think that both children and adult will enjoy this gem of a book alike. The bright and colourful cover of the book with small illustrations of two wolves, a fox, a stag, a horse and a tiger quite intrigued me. Just as I had laid my eyes on this beautiful book, I knew this book will definitely be an interesting read. But as I started reading the book, I understood that my first impression of this book being 'interesting' is an understatement. I could not stop reading once I had started.  The author reminisces the memories of her blissful childhood days which she had spent with her family in rural Kazakhstan (then part of...

Arushi Vats' latest book, Oasis In The Desert And Other Stories, is a collection of nine short stories. Each one of the stories is unique in its own way, yet seems to be connected by a single thread. The book begins with the story titled, An Oasis In The Desert. It is about two star-crossed lovers - Aryan and Neelakshi. Another story, Dadu is a heartbreaking story about the relationship between a grandfather and his grandchild. The Wheel of Memories is another brilliant tale which is included in this collection. Apart from these, there are six more short stories in the collection that makes the readers think, and see life from a very unique perspective. The subtle messages that these stories embody make it quite a thought-provoking read. The author has intricately woven each of these beautiful stories. The stories perfectly capture the hope, disappointment, the pain, and the happiness that the characters experience. The readers can feel all the emotions as they read the stories. Th...

A unique take on the tales of the mythological women, Yugal Joshi's 'Boons & Curses: Legends of the Mythological Mother' is an interesting read. Set in the times after the great Kurukshetra War, where the two groups of cousins, the Pandavas and the Kauravas, fought for the throne of Hastinapur; the book is written in the form of a conversation between Kunti and Krishna. After the war of Kurukshetra, the Pandavas emerged victorious, defeating their cousins, the Kauravas. Dhritarashtra and Gandhari are left childless and at the mercy of the Pandavas. Kunti, the mother of the      Pandavas, feels guilty of fulfilling her desires and ambitions through her sons. A distraught Kunti seeks help from Krishna to get rid of her guilt. What follows is the conversation between the two - about the fascinating tales of the legendary women in Indian mythology. This brilliant retelling places Kunti at its centre and running parallel to her story are the tales of the mythological mothe...

Mohini: The Enchantress by Anuja Chandramouli is a wonderful retelling of the tale of Mohini, from her own perspective. A perfect amalgamation of Indian mythology with fiction, this book is quite a refreshing and insightful read. From the creation of Mohini, from the essence of Vishnu; to Mohini being the Enchantress and meandering her path in the tumult between the Devas and the Asuras; this book covers it all. Mohini  is loved and desired by all; and yet, she is elusive—a tantalizing temptress. The author beautifully tells the tale of Mohini through her book. And not just Mohini, there are a lot of mythological characters whose stories we get to know from this book. The author has done extensive research, and the book reflects that. It is quite an informative read. The character of Mohini, as has been portrayed in Indian mythology (which is basically from a patriarchal point of view), is quite different from what we see in this book. Hence, female characters often go unheard and...

Malathi Ramachandran's latest, Mandu: The Romance of Roopmati and Baz Bahadur,  is an exceptionally well-written book. As is suggested by the title, the book tells the tale of  Miyan Bayezid Baz Bahadur Khan was the last Sultan of Malwa Sultanate, who reigned from 1555 to 1562; and the beautiful peasant girl Roopmati. It is, however, not just the tale of love, and romance; it is so much more... This historical fiction is set in the 16th century India, in the enchanting fortress city of Mandu. The young Sultan Baz Bahadur comes across a beautiful maiden sitting near the banks of River Narmada, with her eyes closed, singing the alaap of Raaga Megh Malhar, the song of the monsoon... Roopmati, the beautiful and young peasant girl, has a special affinity with music and nature.  Baz Bahadur has a passion for fine arts. Listening to her magical voice, he is attracted to both the art and the artist.  He decides to bring Roopmati to his palace in Mandu as his personal musici...

Kochery C. Shibu's latest novel, Faith and the Beloved, is a suspenseful and gripping crime thriller. The book delves deep into the various themes of love, lust, betrayal, intrigue, and revenge. The plot is intricately woven and quite terrifying and tense at times. In the novel, there are two storylines that run parallelly, but are connected.  Naithy Cherokil, a rich and successful businesswoman marries the young and handsome model Tony D’Souza after the death of her husband.  Prem is a Kalari exponent and brilliant student who is very close to his brother Arun. Things go awry when Arun gets killed under mysterious circumstances.  Alice Cherokil  is a smart and intelligent eighteen-year-old, whose life takes a turn when her mother gets hospitalised and is in a coma. She kills her stepfather and is on the run. The lives of the characters are inextricably intertwined by a single thread. The author introduces a lot of characters throughout the book. Also, there is an ab...

As children, most of us loved reading fairytales; the fantastic tales of adventure, of princes, princesses, fairies, of magical lands and so much more. Reading Rajesh Talwar's recent book, Fabulous Four Battle Zoozoo, the Wizard was like a trip down the memory lane for me. It reminded me of my childhood days and my love for reading fairytales.  As is quite evident from the title of this book, Fabulous Four Battle Zoozoo, the Wizard is a tale about Samara, the princess of Nonamia, who embarks upon a journey to save her parents from the clutches of the evil wizard Zoozoo. To succeed in her mission, she requires the help of three young princes from the neighbouring kingdoms -In  Wetlands, she  meets Raja, who can balance a candle on his head while swimming in waters; in Hotlands she meets Nandu, the Fire Boy, who has the ability to walk through  blazing wind; while in Snowlands, s he meets Prince, the Snow Boy, who remains unaffected in freezing temperatures wearing onl...