Reviews

Vandana Bhasin’s ‘The gift of self’ is a 231-page compilation of 71 poems subdivided into 6 sections. Published by Novoquill Publications, each section holds certain kinds of poems, which show the theme of that section. The title of the book itself evokes deep thought. It makes one wonder, ‘Isn’t the …

Srivalli’s ‘The scattered purple flowers’ is a 117 pages long compilation of poetic verses that serenade nature, tickle the funny bone, and pay a tribute to survivors of abuse, genocide, etc. The poems are an ode to free verse poetry and other poetic forms. Srivalli wrote these poems in response …

Priya Nayak Gole’s ‘The Zora Trigger’ is a fast-paced thriller that takes one on a ride into the machinations and workings of the Indian military. Being a thriller, the book is replete with suspense, deception, a race to find elusive answers and also an edge of the seat expectation. You …

‘Till fate do us part’ by Smita Das Jain is a sensitive portrayal of human relationships put on trial by life. The book is a fast-paced drama that unfolds in the twin settings of a hospital and the protagonist’s home. Both the settings bring the protagonist face to face with …

Salini Vineeth’s ‘Lost Edges’, an interesting 257-page turner, is a storyline rich in emotion, drama and relationship issues. The unique title drew me to this book. Once I finished reading it, I understood just how apt the title is. This book felt oddly personal to me, as if the author …

  ‘Hawk’s Return’, the third series of books by ArtoonsInn Room9 Publications, is an anthology of twelve short stories centred on the theme of ‘return/returning’. The 155 pages book explores the concept of returning in the literal, metaphorical and other manners. The stories chronicle journeys, incidents, rediscovery, introspection, reconnection to …

The battle for Dharma resumes in this contemporary saga of personal struggles, friendships, redemption and retribution, inspired from the greatest epic of all times, the Mahabharata.

  Indrani Chowdhury’s ‘Brown gal in the rain’ is a beautiful compilation of poems that touch the soul, primarily because they are about topics and issues that are so commonplace. Indrani’s writing is lyrical and captivating. She expertly weaves verses, masterfully using vocabulary as a tool to craft stanzas that …

  Sreemati Sen’s ‘Shadow Town – grave encounters with the other world’ delves into Bengali folklore. The author’s penchant for writing horror is clearly evident in the book, particularly in the second half of the book where the climax and the denouement startle the reader. The book starts off with …

Khushboo Shah’s ‘The mildly chaotic world of Chi Kenny’ is dystopian satire punctuated with humour, wit and sarcasm. The book is based on the premise of animals being the dominant species on earth, ruling over humans with an emphasis on the dairy farming industry in India. The book is disquieting …