Book Review: Complete Darkness

The future and life in it are fascinating for all readers, and writers show their artistic talent by sharing their vision of the future in their works. In this showcase of future life, what holds a reader's interest is the ingredients an author uses to create a new mixture. In his “Complete Darkness,” Matt Adcock uses a unique style of writing with an appropriate fusion of oxymoronic elements and has the readers in the grip of the text from the beginning. 

The title gives a minor hint of the content that is to follow, but Tom Wade’s foreword gives the readers a fair idea of “Complete Darkness” being a product of the meditative musings of Adcock and not something created out of thin air. Broadly, the book can be classified in the category of science fiction, but other than that, there is the presence of constituents like dystopia, biblical references, and vision of the future. The presence of the theological aspect is fascinating, which literally goes hand in hand with the science fiction background that the author keeps. This gives an introduction to the insightfulness of Adcock’s artistic side and his ability to control the complexities of two opposite subjects balanced and doing justice to both. At the same time, the dystopian component seems to be a step ahead of the Orwellian idea where Adcock bears the influence of the technological boom and the awareness of rapidly changing human lives.

The presence of footnotes in “Complete Darkness” gives the book further depth and gives the readers an understanding of how well researched the novel is. In addition to science-fiction and dystopian literature lovers, Adcock's action-packed work is recommended to all those readers who like to be on their toes and getting surprised by the twists a text can bring anytime. 

Book Review: Yelllow: The Verses of hurting and healing

Writing is the most powerful way to express oneself. It becomes all the more powerful when the author uses poetry form to express themselves. The same powerful expression is seen in Urja Joshi’s work, “Yellow: The Verses of Hurting and Healing.” The title of the book says a lot about it, yet the author keeps some meanings hidden, which can only be found out when the readers go through the verses. It is not necessary that there can be only one manner in which a person can get hurt, but whoever goes through a tough time can read this attempt of Joshi and see the effects her words have.

The poet gives a brief introduction to the work in the beginning. She clearly states that it is,

“a book written and illustrated by author, which is for everyone. for those who believe in love and compassion and for those who don't. those who have healed and those who are still in process.”

This is an indication of the fact that the book is not just a straight set of verses that the author has composed but rather a collection of words that are likely to have a profound effect on the lives of the readers. Joshi may have used lesser words on every page in her verses, but her thoughts are strong and speak to the readers without any diversions.

To concretize her ideas, the author uses ample illustrations in “Yellow: The Verses of Hurting and Healing.” These images may be simple in their making, but they are necessary to make the readers understand the thoughts of the poet more closely. They also help the readers in connecting with the ideas in a more tangible way. To keep the readers connected throughout, the poet does not use any extraordinary language too. There is the ripeness of emotion, and it is conveyed through lesser and easy to understand words. 

The readers are already prepared that “Yellow” will be more like a journey that will make them sail through the phases of hurting and healing. What conspires in the process of hurting and how an individual is affected by it, the author explores it all in her verses. Her style of writing is not much like what readers would find these days; instead, the poet takes a form of writing where she uses fewer words to convey development in the life of a person. 

The version presented by the author may be from the viewpoint of a woman, but restricting the thoughts only to a woman would not be fair. The incidents and happenings that the author narrates are something that could occur in anyone’s life, whether it is a man or a woman. More or less, every person has gone through tough times where they have been hurt and are going through or have gone through the process of healing. Therefore, recommending “Yellow: The Verses of Hurting and Healing.”to be read by all those who are going through ups and downs in life would not be wrong. At the same time, they would also get a share in the wisdom that the author has acquired through her experience or by the observation of others. But in short, it can be concluded that there will something to learn for one reader or the other once they take this book in their hands.

This is what makes “Yellow: The Verses of Hurting and Healing” a recommended reading for not just the younger generation but those who are grown up and mature too. The healing process is not something that can happen overnight. But, with the reading of “Yellow: The Verses of Hurting and Healing,” the process may get some speed. The experience that the readers would go through would be no less than rising from the ashes like a phoenix where the author shares the secrets of healing and getting better with each passing day.

Book Review: Age was just a number

Books with plots featuring romance and love are one of the most preferred when it comes to reading and equally favored when it comes to writing. It because of the manner in which things are narrated which brings a smile to the readers’ face and give them a relaxing and a memorable experience which makes this genre gaining so much favor. Shaheen Kazi in her book, “Age Was Just a Number” brings a book to the readers which is not just packed with romance but at the same time, it also features a variety of emotions a person has in their life which include humor, sadness and maturity. This is what makes the readers laugh and cry and also feel sad for the characters and as a result, fall in love with the book and get attached to it.

Through the character of Sameera, the author shows how on moment in life can change the entire canvas for good and how, avoiding or running away from it is impossible. The author captures more than a decade of Sameera’s life, in which the readers see her growing up from a teenage cheeky brat whose smallest acts also make the reader’s smile and laugh along and see her growing up through her lonely years into a smart, mature woman who learns things more or less, the hard way. “Age Was Just a Number” as the title suggests, is somewhere about the game of age numbers playing a havoc in the lives of the characters and how situations change, the numbers change but individuals do not. The author begins the book with a note of sadness and the readers do know already that something is not right.

Even though Sameera tells her story in a very animated and lively manner, how things fall into place and how events happen with her, the readers always feel that air of sadness as they read through the initial stages of the book. She has light hearted arguments with her mother just like any other teenager. This as a character, gives her instant life of her own. The readers more feel like actually hearing those things aloud instead of reading them in framework of the book. With this, Kazi works on several themes which develop simultaneously. These include the importance of age, purity of love, importance of family ties, friendship, making the right choices, recognizing one’s importance in the eyes of the others and many more in addition to these. 

The readers agree more with what Harpreet, Sameera’s best friend says. She is like the voice of wisdom who says what the readers think. But again, Sameera is like any regular girl who does the same things that girls in that situation do. The character of James represents shrewdness combined with stupidity. He may have said a lot of things in the story, but his actions are always under the radar of suspicion of the readers. He also shows the practical side of life. He is grown up and mature but that maturity does not pay off in the decisions he makes and the manner in which he treats people. The manner in which karma gets him is something that the readers may have always wanted but could not anticipate or predict happening. The falling apart of the Rodrigues’ family shows the unpredictability of life and how things can change without any prior knowledge. 

“Age was just a number” harps on the idea of the fact that it is not necessary that any particular age can define when things can happen in life. It is only the human mind that decides when they should happen, but natural designs have no such boundaries. The narrative is mainly in the hands of Sameera. She is the one who narrates her tales of fun, moments of enjoyment and times of sadness. All these things bring her much closer to the readers as a characters and they can see through her actions yet overlook them due to her genuine and sweet nature. They cry with her in her sufferings because of James, get desperate as she does, wait with her for the right time, face the same dilemma as she does, but at the same time, they cannot predict how she would handle her situation when there will a change or an unexpected entry of her old flame. Rehan is the projection of the perfect timing in life, of the fact that things happen when anyone can least expect or perhaps has no expectations at all. But as soon as he enters the narrative, the readers know that time for Sameera have changed for good. Despite this, the author does keep an element of surprise for the readers and unveils it on the exact time when it was needed. Readers who are looking for a light hearted read which has the package of romance and many other things should go for reading Shaheen Kazi’s “Age Was Just a Number”.

Book Review: Brick, Cement and Dotcom

Life is a journey of learning for everyone. People who step out of their comfort zones or think beyond mainstream or try work in a unique direction for others experience more challenging and unpredictable situations. This experience becomes a treasure for the coming generations or people who look up to those who thought beyond the mainstream. One such example in this regard is Deep Malhotra’s “Brick, Cement and Dotcom: The Unspoken Dark Realities of Entrepreneurship.” As the author says, the term entrepreneur in itself sounds glamourous; this is indisputable. But as it is said, there are two sides to a coin; and Malhotra intends to show the readers the other side of the coin honestly and fearlessly.

The author keeps the book in the first person, sincerely reporting the events as they occurred, and lets the readers decide and infer based on their observations. In addition to this, the post scripts at the end of the chapters make the readers understand the author at a personal level and bring them closer to him without their realizing it. This technique's usage makes the book more of a heart to heart conversation rather than merely words scribbled on paper. Simultaneously, “Brick, Cement and Dotcom” gives essential life lessons to the readers and those who may dream of becoming entrepreneurs. The author also shows the transition phase from the times of late 90s to the stage when technology was in its boom phase. Through this, the author depicts the changing circumstances of the many who would have faced the situations he faced.

Malhotra keeps the chapters mostly short and keeps the readers connected to the text throughout. He gives brief names to the chapters, but the depth that they carry is a lot more. Although the book is written on a personal note, the author's story can be a story of many. Even if “Brick, Cement and Dotcom” mainly revolves around the dynamics of entrepreneurship, the reading base cannot be restricted to any particular set of readers. This book is open to reading for all people, whether they read fiction or non-fiction, as it not only unveils the truths of life and also inspires them to work towards achieving what is unthinkable for others and have what the author says, “a happy ending”.

Book Review: Janaka and Ashtavakra

Indian mythological literature is known for its diversity of characters. This diversity of characters leaves loopholes here and there for writers to explore stories from different viewpoints and perspectives. Ashraf Karayath has made the same attempt in his work, “Janaka and Ashtavakra: A Journey Beyond.” In his concise yet detailed writing, he explores the power of wisdom that can help any person get through any situation. He takes the readers on a journey into the time of kings and queens and gives them the taste of royalty through his words. In response, the readers take a plunge into the narrative and travel to the lands described in mythology.

The author has the readers in the grip of the narrative right from the opening of the text. He begins the book in a very unexpected manner, which steals the attention of the readers effortlessly. As the plot progresses, the plot swings between different families, and here and there, the author uses the flashback technique to make sure the readers cannot keep the book away from them. He develops strong and individual characters who speak for themselves, and the author does not seem to be pulling strings anywhere. The book's division into 4 parts with a prologue and epilogue helps the readers have better clarity over the text and makes the reading experience an unforgettable one for them.

The story the author chooses to tell may be known to many, but what makes it interesting is the manner in which he builds with the raw material. The plot has swiftness, yet it remains steady for the readers to hold every event that occurs. “Janaka and Ashtavakra” is a novel that may be spiritual and philosophical in nature, yet the readers cannot ignore the modern relevance of the ideas it shares. Janaka's prudence gives a life lesson to the readers, and he wins their hearts with his insightfulness. Ashtavakra, on the other hand, has all the characteristics of a young teenager, but the wisdom he displays is beyond his years.

This is one of the few books bound to get every kind of reader interested and make them want to read it till the end. At the same time, it can be read by people of all age groups. Teenagers will like it because of Ashtavakra, and grown-ups will fee interested because of the presence of Janaka. 

Book Review: Miss Call

A literary work is true to its times when it showcases the problems and issues of the time in which it is being written. Indian literature has seen different phases, and today's literature is far different than the one written in the pre or post-independence era. Hardik P. Patel's "Miss Call" as a title may convey just the surface-level details, but it is only by reading that the readers can see how many issues and themes the author depicts effortlessly in his compact and condensed work.

The cover of the book may disturb the mind of the readers for once. That is the author's technique to brainstorm their minds and open their thinking to read new themes and vital issues. Thereafter, as the author begins narrating the story through the protagonist, Jay's eyes, it makes the book unputdownable for the reader. Through his 19-year-old life and times he has seen, he tells the readers how life can change for any person unknowingly. 

The notable aspect of "Miss Call" is that neither the author nor the protagonist interferes in the formation of the reader's perception. The readers comprehend and understand how all factors together impact an individual's personality and how these individuals behave when as a part of society. They leave it to their understanding to observe, interpret, and incur. Such work can always be collected as a souvenir for the times ahead. 

Apart from this, the subjects that the author handles are appreciable. On the short novel's canvas, Patel explores various themes like presumptuous human behavior, teenage years in a person's life, how impressionable their mind is in that time, and. Other than this, the readers may find other ideas when they try to read between the lines. These include family and their support, friends, how far they stand with a person, how harmful half knowledge can be, and society's attitude towards a person who is not a proven criminal. One of the very critical issues the author raises is the issue of parenting. How important parenting is in a child's life and how instrumental it is in developing an individual's personality is what everyone is well aware of, yet it is crucial to remember. Patel also shares the idea that scores and degrees are consequential but other than that, focusing on a person's emotional, social, and psychological development can never be overlooked.

"Miss Call" is a recommended reading for all readers, young or old. The fact that the book is short and crisp opens it to a wider reading public. As a character, Jay keeps the readers engaged and updated with all that happens in his life. He is an example of a gentleman of the present day who is far more realistic than the constructed artificial images, as depicted in movies or fairytales.

Apart from this, the author's narrative style and his subject for "Miss Call" is powerful enough to give the readers an unforgettable experience where they not only comprehend the story but also use their intellect to understand the message Patel has tried to share.

Book Review: One Within

Perhaps among all human emotions, the most powerful emotion that humans experience in their lifetime is the emotion of love. Whether it is from parents to children or vice versa or siblings or partners, it shows up in the strongest form when the right person is with them. Authors have been portraying the development of the chemistry and the emotion of love for ages and yet it continues to be the most written about theme due to its pervasiveness. The same is apparent in Bobby George’s creation, “One Within”. The title may for once seem simple and catchy for readers to remember at once, this is one of the major attractions when it comes to reading.

The cover of the book gives the vibe of an interesting tale of love which the author is set to unveil. The interest of the readers gains spark when they read the small punch lines mentioned here and there on the cover. That promises the book to be an easy “grab and read” kind of work. The manner in which the author has refrained from giving titles or proper names to chapters and kept them in the category of books is also an innovative approach which was perhaps last seen in Dickens’ “Hard Times”. George creates and constructs the narrative mainly around two characters and how their lives unfold. Other characters remain more as a supportive cast and help in developing the lives of the protagonists. The beginning of the story with a land to be sold makes the readers reminisce Anton Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard” however, the nature and theme of Chekhov’s drama is entirely different from “One Within”.

The interesting thing to note is how the narrator takes up the building of himself and his love interest, Rini. He narrates details about her in such a manner that the imagination of the readers is triggered right away in an instant. They are held to the book till the end because of this skill especially. Side by side, the readers also understand the narrator as a person and his overall personality. The theme may sound cliché to some readers, yet the mature depiction and the attempt to portray the realities of life is what makes “One Within” a promising book for most readers. It reinforces the idea of life not being a bed of roses. Literature should bear the essence of realities of life so that the readers can learn something from it. George’s work meets that criteria effortlessly.

Readers who are looking for work with a fine portrayal of humans and the stronger experience of emotions can try reading “One Within”. But with the twists that the author gives, he removes the book from sounding like a mere fairytale and rather pushes it closer to life. In the present time, readers prefer to read more realistic and true to life elements instead of far-fetched, impossible things and George takes care of that stylistically. This is one of the other supporting factors in making the book a reading of interest for readers. 

The manner in which the author builds up the plot and constructs the story further is smooth and the fluidity is maintained throughout the narrative. The readers do not lose track or feel bored for a moment. Rather, they remain glued to the book and are held on by the thoughts of what could happen further. All this together, makes sure that the readers experience, tension, thrill and moments where they find themselves smiling as per the placement of the author. With a language meant to cater to the needs of all possible readers, the author manages to open the book for reading by all. Therefore, suggesting the book to be read by all would not be wrong. In addition to one dominant theme, there are other sub-themes that also develop as the narrative progresses. Young or old, “One Within” has something or the other in store for all kinds of readers.