Book Review: Pralay - The Great Deluge by Vineet Bajpai

The first book that I read by Vineet Bajpai was Harappa - Curse of the Blood River. The writing style, the characterization, and the whole narrative was so engrossing that I had to read the next in the series.

If I can make a comparison, it was like watching Bahubali part 1 and then waiting anxiously for part 2. This review comes very late but as they say, better late than never.

Pralay - The Great Deluge, by Vineet Bajpai is the sequel which starts off where Harappa ended. The protagonist, Vidyut is badly injured while trying to fight an unknown enemy. The story reverberates with instances of darkness and evil spilled through a civilization that is trying to breathe it's last. The narrative follows the same style of flipping back and forth between different eras that relate to one another through stories of 1700 BCE Harappa, 2017 Banaras and 325 AD, Bithynian City (Turkey).

In an intelligent interplay of narrative, Vineet once again manages to engross the audience and yet again leaves us longing for more.

Vineet introduces many new characters and paints them so vividly through his words that each one holds his own. His knowledge and interest in our history and mythology clearly shows through in the way he presents each situation in the story with fiction cleverly woven in.

You are introduced to Trijat Kapaalik, a "maha tantric", an aghora but why does he dread the great Dwarka Shastri, Vidyuts grandfather? What does he mean when he says, 'Kapaal arpan toh hoga aaj, prabhu, kapaal arpan toh hoga' (the skull offering will happen today for sure, my lord)

When Manu meets Matsya, you can almost feel the divine presence of the mighty fish that salvaged all creation, one of the dashavatara, divine avatar of Lord Vishnu.

Does Vivasan Pujari die at the hands of the people of Harappa or does he lay a curse on the entire civilization? What causes the great Pralay that the author refers to in the title and who will survive it?

This is a must read specially if you've already read the Harappa, as Vidyut, the 21st century Devta challenges to topple the World Order. 

A gripping tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Book Review: Let Go Of Me by Ekta Saigal Pandit

"When you think of ideals and crave for that ideal love, it is a reflection of this kind of love that you desire. The absolute love."

Asmi - she could be you, your friend, or even me! 

Let Go Of Me by Ekta Saigal Pandit is like a reflection of our own inner turmoils written as if Asmi lives somewhere inside us.

Publication: Heritage Publishers

Price: Rs 295/$10.99 (available online HERE)

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Let Go Of Me is a story of Asmi and Sagar. Two extremely different people leading very different lives. Their destiny brings them together with a strange pull between their souls. While Asmi leads a very 'normal' life with her husband, kids and in-laws, she battles daily with a strange sense of emptiness within her. A strange voice within her and a strong sense of love in her dreams keeps her going. She is yet to understand the visions she has when life brings her face to face with Sagar. Sagar has the eyes that seem to read her, to know who she really is deep inside and to feel her need as another separated soul would. 

But Sagar has a past to hide, a present he cannot disclose fully lest he lose Asmi. Sagar continues to love her yet hides from her all that a soulmate should reveal. Sagar is a part of Asmi that she can only breathe and cannot control. She chooses not to alter anything in Sagar, but whether she can give him her unconditional love even after finding out his present ordeals is for you to find out in this 221 page - sometimes tearjerker, sometimes goosebumps giver - book.

"Where was her soulmate? Why had she found no soul mate in all her thirty eight years? What was it that stopped her from sharing herself completely with anyone?"

If you believe in love, if you believe in soul mates, and if you believe in the power of the Universe - Let Go Of Me is something you will surely enjoy reading.

Book Review: The Last Ten Percent by TGC Prasad

How many of you have stopped buying from a brand because of poor customer service? How many of you have gone the extra yard to buy from a particular brand because you know that you will get complete support right till the end?

The Last Ten Percent by TGC Prasad talks about that last ten percent which is left out by companies and their employees when they service a customer. That last step that makes all the difference. The book is an interesting read. TGC Prasad talks about his real life experiences and case studies where he has seen both ends of the spectrum.

Book Review: The Last Ten Percent by TGC Prasad

It is interesting to read through the stories of brands like Wal-Mart, Starbucks, Nestle - who have established themselves across the world as leaders not because they have something unique to offer but because they have the customer at the heart of everything they do. Their uniqueness actually lies in that extra mile that they are willing to go to ensure customer satisfaction.

Book Review: A Tryst With Money by Samar Vijay

A Tryst With Money: An account of our journey with money to an unknown destiny

Book Review: A Tryst With Money by Samar Vijay

Finance impacts our lives whether we like it or not. We all know 'money' as the undercurrent of all our transactions; whether its paper based money or a swipe of the credit card, money has a place in our lives.

Samar Vijay is a financial expert and his writing exemplifies that. In 'A Tryst with Money' he aims to narrate the journey of money from its inception. The book talks about a lot of facts and is very educative in those terms. The story is woven with fictional events and the author aims to make us aware that we are treading along a path where money has an unknown destiny. 

For me the book was like an encyclopedia on money. With no financial background I liked reading up on how money evolved from the initial barter system to minting of gold and silver and finally copper coins. It talks about the impact that money had on the big power houses of the world or rather how different power houses came into being. Money and its impact on our entire history is chalked out.

The book also reveals and cautions us how money is used by its creators to exploit the common man. It tries to highlight the fallacy that money is the answer to all our problems. Money was always a means of exchange where both parties traded equally but with tables turning towards one side corruption has ensued and weaved its way throughout the world. 

If you want to learn about money, become educated about its history or just want to get a peek into how things evolved, grab a copy today HERE

Book Review: Orphans of the Storm by Ravi Dhar

Hi friends, today I am sharing a review on the book Orphans of the Storm by Ravi Dhar.

Ravi Dhar has a PhD in English from the North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, India and is a well traveled man. Orphans of the Storm shows you glimpses of different states of India as it takes you from the Kashmir valley to the migrant camps of Jammu, from Nagaland to the city of Delhi.

The novel talks about the life of Kashmiri Pundits and specifically of Siddharth the protagonist. Ravi Dhar is a Kashmiri Pundit himself and the plot surely reflects touches his own experiences woven in.

Orphans of the Storm starts off on a very sad note, I had a hard time getting through the first few pages. Siddharth is left devastated when his entire family is torn out of the Kashmir valley due to the militant attacks. While his sister is raped and battered to pieces, his mother and younger sister are left in shock after being beaten badly. His brother is missing and his father, the most reputed in his place, loses everything and is finally forced to move out to the camps in Jammu.

Siddharth works hard educating himself while at the same time trying to help his father build up a means of living from scratch. Siddharth moves to Nagaland after getting selected as a lecturer at the state university. The story moves on with bits of love and heartbreak thrown in. And then the murder of the Dean change Siddharth's life for good. With a ray of hope he finally moves to Delhi and the story ends with a happy ever after beginning as he finds the love of his life.

Orphans of the Storm turns out to be an intense debut novel. You can get a copy at flipkart.com for Rs 170

Happy reading!