Book Reviews

Mumblings and Musings

This collection of 44 modern poems is written both in blank verse and in rhyme. They are very visceral, relatable and thought provoking. The poems revolve around everyday life and people. The themes range from the fleeting nature of life, love, death, bigotry, faith, insanity, fate, Calcutta, Mumbai and more. Stunning images clicked by photographer Ashish Bakshi and the author accompany each poem; which takes in the still life, candid moments, vistas and unique perspectives to add another dimension to the poems.

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Kylie saves Dragonia

Kiley stopped where she was. With an astonished look on her face she said, “H... He... Help? You need my help?" Kiley and her cat Powette were enjoying a sunny day in the garden. Little did they know that their day was going to be filled with thrills and adventure. An unexpected visitor came to ask for their help to save his kingdom. Who was this visitor? Why did he need Kiley's help? Whom did he need to protect his kingdom from? Was Kiley able to help her visitor and save his kingdom? Read the story to know who was Kiley's surprise visitor and how did meeting him turn Kiley's normal day to one filled with adventure.

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Kings, Saviours & Scoundrels

Eternal Tales of India, Retold for the world. What if you could relive some glorious moments of our illustrious past? Meet the valiant warriors with great kindness and the courageous souls who thought out of the box. Know the origins of Vikram and Vetal. Salute the stellar women who took charge of their lives and the brave kings who trod on the righteous path. Laugh with some quirky villagers who are full of beans. Savour the heart-tugging friendships between the unlikely souls or the intrepidity of the creatures that won’t give up despite everything. Perceive the villainous deceit by the trusted. Rooted in the traditional storytelling of Indian legends, mythical beings, and their splendid adventures, Kings, Saviours and Scoundrels is a melting pot of entertaining kathas, selected from one of India's oldest classics, Somadeva's Katha Sarita Sagara.

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The absent citizen – the man who knew too much

Book title – The absent citizen…the man who knew too much Publisher –    self published by the author   Pages – 294 pages   Language – English Author–  Shashilaka Gadepally Available on – Amazon.in Purchase link – https://www.amazon.in/Absent-Citizen-man-who-much/dp/9355261683/ref=sr_1_2?crid=ET628E6G5CS5&keywords=the+absent+citizen&qid=1641620175&sprefix=the+absent+citize%2Caps%2C395&sr=8-2 ——————————————————————————— ‘The absent citizen’ is a book about circumstances that can force a man …

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Demigods are alive

Book title – Demigods Are Alive, Long & Short Stories Publisher –  Chrysanthemum Chronicles Pages – 146 pages   Language – English Author – Monalisa Joshi Available on – Amazon.in ——————————————————————————— ‘Demigods are Alive’ is a collection of 6 short stories by Monalisa Joshi. The book has been published under Monalisa’s …

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Trail XIII – the path to perdition

After the success of their first horror offering - Route 13 - The Highway to Hell, The Hive Publishers present to you, another bloodcurdling, spine-chilling, and eye-popping horror anthology that comprises stories that are about the Paranormal to Occult, Haunted Houses, Historical and Psychological Horror, Weird West and Splatterpunk. Apart from the Desi dose of horror, expect to be awed by the stories from international authors. The journey through Trail Xiii will take you through thirteen bone-chilling stories strewn along with the putrefying dead bodies. Beware, TRAIL XIII is not for the fainthearted. Tread carefully, for this is the path to perdition. Hush!

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Miles and fears

‘Miles And Fears’ is an engaging fiction novel that speaks aloud about the fears a soldier’s family copes with when the soldier stands miles away to guard the nation. It is a romance novel that has been set in Kashmir and New Delhi.

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A mother’s goodbye

Three siblings in 2010s Kolkata: Avik (17), Mou (16), and Ishaan (8), grapple with their lives when their single mother, Deepa, disappears, leaving behind a note asking them to not look for her. While Avik and Mou try to take care of Ishaan, earn a living, and not get caught by authorities, they also try to put together pieces of the puzzle to figure out the woman who was their mother and the mystery behind her disappearance. While struggling with these issues, the teenagers find love, experience heartbreak, and come to terms with some of their own deeper truths.

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Jungle cottage

रुआँसी हो रही थी वह I रमन भी बेहद परेशान हो गया था गाड़ी का पहिया क्या पन्चर हुआ, लगा जैसे मस्ती वाली आउटिंग ही डिरेल हो गई I पहाड़ी रास्ते शहतूत के कच्चे फलों जैसे होते हैं, हरे, खुरदुरे, चबाओ तो खट्टे और मधुमक्खियों के दोस्त I “कितनी बार कहा था तुमसे कि मेन रोड पर ही चलते हैं, पर तुम भी न जाने किन ख्यालों में रहती हो, अब भुगतो”.. “गलती तुम्हारी है, स्टेपनी भी चैक नहीं की, और तो और डिक्की में एयरपम्प भी नहीं है, मेरे पापा तो न, चलने के पहले सब खुद चैक करते हैं I ड्राईवर पर भी भरोसा नहीं करते I मुझे पता ही नहीं था कि तुम इतने केयरलैस हो I” “मोना”...रमन आहत सा बोला I कुछ तीखा बोलने को कसमसाया, पर स्वयं को सहज कर लिया..ठीक है! सब मेरी गलती I चलो देखते हैं क्या हो सकता है I पर अब अपना बैक-पैक उठाओ और स्वेटर पहनो I ठण्ड खा जाओगी तो और मुसीबत, फिर बहुत लाड़ से, गाड़ी से कैप निकाल कर मोना के सिर पर चढ़ाई और माथा चूम लिया I गाड़ी मुख्यमार्ग के बायीं ओर जाती पक्की डामर की एक सँकरी सड़क पर, कटी हुई चट्टान के किनारे खड़ी थी I उसी कटान से सटकर, छोटे-छोटे मोतियों के झुमकों जैसे फूलों से भरा एक गगनचुम्बी वृक्ष खड़ा था I ज़मीन पर गिर-गिर कर जिसके फूलों ने वर्क सी सफ़ेद चादर बिछा दी थी I उसकी पीली जड़ों ने पसरकर किनारे की कटी हुई पहाड़ी की पथरीली मिट्टी को सघन रेशमी कश्मीरी कढ़ाई जैसे जाल से जकड़ रखा था I

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Leaves of autumn and other poems

  Book title – Leaves of autumn and other poems Publisher – Amazon kindle (soon to be available in paperback) Pages – 177 Language – English Author – Vasudha Pansare Available on – Amazon.in Link – https://www.amazon.in/Leaves-Autumn-Other-Vasudha-Pansare-ebook/dp/B098P5H3JH/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=vasudha+pansare&qid=1629089796&sr=8-1#customerReviews ——————————————————————- Leaves of autumn and other poems is a compilation of 125 poems …

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