Book Review: The Taura

As unique as the name sounds, “The Taura” by Vimal Chandar is one of the few books which invoke the elements of mystery, wonder, suspense, and curiosity together at the same time while also ensuring that the readers remain interested in the text throughout. The author shows the opposite forces of light and dark at loggerheads which form a unified whole of the text quite effortlessly. In the midst of this, he builds up characters who tell their stories and get involved in each other’s lives at an unconscious level.

Chandar picks up the plot from the few raw materials he has available and moulds them into the book as a whole to keep the readers interested in a tale they would have less heard of. The motif of journey operates in the background as the lives of different characters are depicted in light of this. At the same time, the author raises a variety of themes which include friendship, freedom, a sense of belonging, connection among human beings, and the struggles of human life.

Through his work, the young debuting author shows his artistic talent and ability to give words to the story that would be less known and unheard. Dividing the book into 10 chapters, the author develops the plot in a smooth and fluid manner. “The Taura” is recommended to all readers who want to read a breath of fresh air in literary writing, which keeps them glued to the text and also keeps them interested throughout the development.

Book Review: Beyond the horizon with You and Life

#QOTD: How has your march reading been so far?

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P.B. Shelley once said, “Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.” This quote holds relevance even years later when times and civilization may have changed, and yet, the role of poets still remains the same. Chandan Sarkar, in his poetry collection, “Beyond The Horizon with You and Life: selected poems on the inner self, thoughts, and life,” justifies Shelley’s statement to all extent.

Herein, the readers would find work born from a deeply reflective and observant mind. Sarkar has recorded his observations in verse form and given them the depth of an analytical mind. The poems, to some, may appear to be simple poems that are a product of the poet’s experience. On delving deeper into the content, the readers would find layers of meaning which they can only understand when they get closely involved with the author’s writing.

He keeps the initial poems such that the readers can quickly understand what he is trying to say and eventually raises the bar where they continue to read and simultaneously wonder how the poet complicates and yet says things effortlessly with fewer words every time. His poems can be as short as “Sunrise” and as long as “Shame,” but the thought remains clear, focused, and concise. This curtness and objectivity in the writing style of the poet would impress the readers to quite an extent. At the same time, the poet is selective about the themes he covers. He talks about life in “An Infinite Moment,” and through metaphors of nature, he conveys the message of introspection and thinking over things objectively. Poems like “Footpath” and “Shame” effortlessly connect nature and civilization and also critique humankind and its ways. “A Morning Walk” and “Sunrise” are about a new day and a fresh start which implies remaining positive and hopeful at all points of life. “Searching for A Better Place” is about the utopian world which the poet dreams of. Other poems like “Pieces of Lives” explore the basic instincts of human beings and how their lives revolve around them.

Book Review: Love me till you can

In any terms, life is beautiful because of its unpredictability and the manners in which destiny pulls the strings of human lives to make sure they end up where they are meant to be. An example bearing this impression is Khyati Gadhavi, who justifies the above line in her second book, “Love Me Till You Can: A Mesmerizing Journey of Aarya and Aarav.” From what may seem to be a mainstream college romance, the author takes time leaps that show the uniqueness of her work and creative abilities.

Gadhavi sets the work mainly in the areas of Gujarat, which would make a native reader feel connected instantly. But the story of Aarya and Aarav would make every reader feel related to the book altogether. The usage of time leap shows how times change and people change, but one thing that does not change is how one feels about something or someone. These are a few features that make Gadhavi’s work more universal and show the observations of the young author.

In addition to this, the author talks about different themes in addition to the central theme of love. These include life experiences influencing a person and their choices, the significance of family tie-ups, student life, and the different challenges it brings for people in that age, the importance of having a practical approach towards life, enjoying the little moments, and making sure no memory is bad or unpleasant. Young readers would be able to relate to “Love Me Till You Can” because of the nature of the content and the references to student life that the author gives. At the same time, grown-up readers would feel interested as they would get a chance to look back to their earlier years and reminisce their lives through the characters built by the author. 

The language the author uses caters to the needs of an average reader. The plot constructs and unfolds at its own pace, and although the readers try to guess what could happen next, yet they remain glued to the action till the end. All readers should give this book a try and explore the world that the author has created in “Love Me Till You Can.”