Hello!

Hi there!
So, I see you landed up on my blog. I would like to inform you that I no longer blog on this platform. I have shifted my blog here ( just click on here).
You can still contact me via the contact form and the mentioned email id.
Hope to see you on my new blog!
Happy Reading!!
- Ravneet Kaur (ravneetkaur113@gmail.com)

Book Traveling Thursday #1: A Book Worth the Hype

Book Traveling Thursday is a weekly discussion post where we pick up a book that fits a predetermined theme and explore the various cover editions and chose our favorite and least favorite editions. This week's theme is 

Hype is not always a bad thing. Choose a book that was worth the hype.

The book that I chose for this theme is The Book Thief.  A short gasp escaped from everyone's mouth when they would know that being the crazy reader I am, I still haven't read this masterpiece. Some people would also roll their eyes in order to show their intellectual superiority.I hate these people because they bring a bad name to the community of readers. Hey! We don't judge other readers on the basis of what they read. Seems like I am drifting from the topic. Let's come back!  So, when I went to book fair in January this year, my friend literally shoved this book in my face and told me to read it ASAP. And after reading it, I only regret not reading it sooner. Reading it was like an emotional roller coaster. I remember reading it one sitting ( yes, I am proud of myself) and crying my heart out. Now, I try and get my friends to read this one if they already haven't. 

Book Covers available in India  

                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                    

Covers I like the Most:

 The first one is the Vietnamese Cover, the middle one is an anniversary edition, and the one at extreme right is Portuguese one. I love all of these covers because they symbolize the story in one way or the another. 

My least Favourite Cover:

I hate the movie-tie in editions of the books because they steal all the focus from the book and give the spotlight to the movie. Books over movies, any day!

See you next Thursday with another book!

Tell Me Something Tuesday #1: Authors I want to read

Tell me SomethingTuesday is a weekly discussion post where a wide range of topics from books to blogging is discussed. And this week's question is:

Who are some authors you have been meaning to read?

Fernando Pessoa- He is a Portuguese poet, writer, literary critic, translator, and editor.  I got to know about this author from a friend who told a very interesting story about him. So apparently, Fernando Pessoa created around 75 alter egos of himself. And he used to mess around with his girlfriend writing her letters using the names of his alter-egos. His girlfriend would also play along but after some time, she left him. This intrigued me very much and I decided that I got to read his work.

Chinua Achebe: He was a Nigerian poet, writer, professor, and critic. I got to know about him through the works of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I have read

two of her books and they were amazing. She says she is inspired by Chinua Achebe. Not only that, I have seen various acclaimed writers praising him too. So, I am really excited to read him soon.

  

Saadat Hasan Manto: He was an Indo-Pakistani writer, playwright, and author. He is considered among the greatest writers of short stories in South Asian History. He was an iconoclast of his time and it reflects in his writings. He faced court trials several times for obscenity in his writings in both India and Pakistan. 

    

Sudha Murty: Sudha Murty is an Indian writer and philanthropist. She is a computer engineer by profession. When she was studying, she was the only girl in her class because girls were not encouraged to study engineering. Despite all the odds, she emerged as a gold medalist.She was the first woman to be hired as an engineer in that company. After that, she took to writing books and has been a phenomenal success. I find her very inspiring and that's why I have been meaning to read her for some time.

Sarah J. Mass: She is an American Fantasy author. Her books are a rage everywhere from bookstagram to booktube.She is the New York Times and the USA Today bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series. Her latest trilogy A court of Mist and Fury is getting popular among readers. I have had so many people recommending her books to me that I finally decided I should give it a try. 

Other authors include Salman Rushdie, Italino Calvino, Albert Camus. Mulkraj Anand. Tell me in comments which authors you have been meaning to read. 

                                                                                                      

Mailbox Monday #1 : Lolita

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week.  I thought that this is a great way to show what books will form my TBR.

So, the book that I got last week in my mailbox is a giveaway prize I won through Instagram. Look at that cover though! I love it. The book is called Lolita and it is authored by Vladimir Nabokov. It gained the stature of a classic quite quickly. The plot of the novel goes something like this: a middle aged professor is sexually attracted to a 12- year old girl and goes to the extent of marrying her mother to be close to the girl. Quite scandalous! This book was published way back in 1955. Interestingly, this book is added to the Time's Magazine List of 100 best English language novels published from 1923 to 2005. I am looking forward to reading this book so much. 

Book Review: At The Teahouse Cafe

At the Teahouse Cafe is a collection of 15 essays by Isham Cook recounting his experiences in China.

I was very excited to read this book since I know almost nothing about China and its culture and I am not disappointed. The author talks about various issues ranging from education to health to customer service in China. I was a little skeptical of essays being of purely academic nature which get a little boring sometimes but the author did not disappoint there too. 

He draws extensively from his own experiences which make essays quite interesting to read. He is funny and sarcastic, which is icing on the cake. The tone is conversational and he lets the readers take a peek into the culture of China. He does not shy away from talking about sex or what is wrong with the education system in China. You will often find comparisons between China and USA, and China and Japan. The essay on differences between Starbucks in China and Japan is my absolute favorite along with the last essay where he talks about racism and yellow fever.

 My rating: 

 PS: I got a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review via BookTasters

Book Review: Pearls of Daily Life

My Rating:

Pearls of Daily Life by Antonia Loschner is a collection of short stories and poems which "invite a journey of discovery". The book explores daily lives of people doing ordinary routine things and finding out little things about themselves. It offers exactly what is promises- wisdom in daily life. A journey of self-discovery in small incidents of life. The book takes on seemingly mundane yet interesting themes- a walk in the garden, a train ride, standing up for your co-passengers, children playing in the garden.

The book came as a breath of fresh air. I was afraid it was going to be like those preachy self-help novel espousing hard routines or sermons to discover yourself. But as soon as I read the first poem- Creativity, I knew I was in for something different. You need not trek the Himalayas to discover yourself, you could very well be taking a walk and surprise yourself. You just need to be a little aware.   Another thing that I liked about the book is how often the author talked mental illness. Mental Illness is a grim reality of today and it has affected so many people around us. But it also true it is also one of the most tabooed subjects to talk about. 

In a nutshell, pick up this book if you want to read something light, breezy and inspiring.

PS: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Book Blogger Hop #1: Why Readathons are not my Cup of Tea?

For those who don't know, a readathon is an event where you set a goal to read certain books in a pre determined time limit. The readathon can have a particular theme or it could be open. It is not only a good way to tackle your TBR but also a great medium to meet other bibliophiles from around the world. A themed readathon is generally followed by a discussion which is instrumental in knowing different perspectives. Readathon might also contain photography challenges, which is a great way to flaunt your skills.

                                   

But despite the oh-so-greatness of these readathons, I still can't get myself to participate in one and here's why:

Time Constraint

Readathons are generally organized for 12 /24 hours or even over a period of days. Being a person who thinks 1000 thoughts at the same time, it is quite difficult for me to concentrate for long hours or to abandon everything and just read.

Setting Targets

Reading for me is a way of unwinding from long heavy days. I don't view it as an item of a To-do list that needs to be checked off. So setting targets puts an undue pressure on me to finish these reads in order to "successfully" complete the readathon and contribute to the discussion. Also, seeing other people's reading updates makes me more and more anxious. Damn this competitive spirit!

Reading Experience

I want to devour my books. I want to get to know the characters. Laugh with them. Cry with them. Do a little research about the author. Get to know the author better. I like to stop in between and reflect on what is being said. A tight deadline mars the reading experience for me. Even if I  am able to complete the book, I don't feel satisfied. There is always a sense of something missing.

So, quite honestly. readathons don't work for me. Do they work for you? Tell me in comments!

This writing prompt has been taken from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. Check out the blog for amazing reviews and prompts.

Book Talk: Riddles in Hinduism

Riddles in Hinduism by B.R Ambedkar is a scathing remark on the well-established tenets of Hinduism. 

The introduction by Kancha Ilaiah sets a good base for the book. He talks about Ambedkar's life, different roles he played and his critique of Hinduism. He also talks about the current context and how ironical it is for the right to appropriate Ambedkar as a Hindu figure despite his hatred for Hinduism.

Ambedkar has delved upon various aspects of Hinduism. The first riddle digs into the question of who is a Hindu? Ambedkar says that there is no definite answer for that owing to the diversity in thoughts and practices among Hindus. He also looks into the characterisation of Rama and Krishna in the popular narrative and questions the sanctity of their actions. He is also critical of Manu's explanation of the Mixed Caste.

The most interesting read for me was the riddle of The Four Varnas: Are the Brahmans Sure of their Origin?. In this riddle, he explains how different scriptures suggest a different origin of the caste system. There is no coherence among Vedas and Shashtras.

Ambedkar's writing is hard hitting. He raises right questions and views them with an objective lens. He has deeply researched all the scriptures and dissected them for us to see their internal contradictions.He makes you question your own deep-rooted prejudices which were fed to you by the popular narrative. No wonder when Maharashtra Government printed this book, Shiv Sena sought a ban. 

In a nutshell, if you have to read one book this year, it ought to be this one.

Book Review: Leadersights

My Rating:

Leadersights by David Veech is a book that focuses on "how organizations of all types can create a leader". The book is divided into 10 chapters with each section dealing with different aspects of leadership. The first few chapters set the theoretical foundation while the rest of them focuses majorly on tools and implementation.

The book contains some great insights on leadership. The concepts are explained in a very simple language and appropriate examples are used to further elucidate them. To break down complex concepts, analogies have been used which makes things easier. There is a crisp summary at the end of each chapter. What makes it for a good re-read is the visual representation of the book. Important points are highlighted and diagrams are used for easy reference. 

What I liked the most about the book is that a great emphasis is given on implementation of the tools. The chapters are accompanied by exercises and the problems regarding the implementation are also addressed. So, this is not just a preachy book which will tell you what to do but it would also tell you the ways to do it. I especially liked the concept of a "servant leader". 

In a nutshell, pick up this book if you looking to read great insights about leadership.

PS: I received the pdf copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

You can buy the book here

Book Review: Writing for Bliss

My Rating:

Writing for Bliss by Diana Raab is about "reflection, truth, and freedom."  The book is divided into seven sections and it guides you through the whole process of writing from preparing to write to sharing it. Each section dwells deep into the writing process and offers various insights. It also delineates various kinds and mediums of writing. There is a separate section on poetry also.  I have read quite a lot of books, websites, and other resources but this one definitely stands out for the following reasons

• The author provides an amazing explanation about how writing can help you figure out your issues and heal. She has also talked about how writing can be transformative. In a way, she does not only talk about the mechanical aspects of writing but also connects it to spirituality. 
• The book is well researched and the author has drawn heavily from the experiences of other writers and psychologists which makes the content very rich and diverse.
• Each section starts with a detailed description of the process and how it can be used in our personal lives. Then, she relates it to the writing. 
• The language of the book is simple to understand and the narrative flows easily. No fancy words which would make comprehension difficult.
• I absolutely loved the writing prompts in the beginning and in the end. 
• The book provides abundant writing tips to the novice as well as seasoned writers.

In a nutshell, pick up this book if you are looking for some inspiration to write. 

The book is going to be out in September 2017 but you can preorder the book here

PS: I received an e-copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Book Review: Super Women

My Rating:

Super Women by Prachi Garg is a book encompassing entrepreneurial journeys of 20 women. These are the tales of self-realization, extraordinary courage and out of the box, unconventional ideas. In what is generally regarded as a male dominated space, these women who have taken up the challenge of smashing stereotypes and make a name for themselves are inspiring.

Each story brings out various aspects of the journey- the ideas, the hopes, the fears, the challenges. Not only their entrepreneurial journeys are talked about, the author also attempted to bring out their personalities.The narrative flows smoothly. The language is simple yet impactful. The author has made sure that there is a diverse mix of professions from handicraft portal to lingerie portal. This helped in making the book a more interesting read.  You can't help but feel motivated. 

There is one story I will like to mention particularly- Make Love Not Scars. This touched me deeply. The way author brings out the internal contradictions in the mind of the entrepreneur is commendable. Our flawed notions about the beauty are superficial. The way we have internalized it all speaks volumes about what is wrong with the society.

In a nutshell, it is definitely worth a read not only for aspiring entrepreneurs but also for women of all ages and professions.


PS: I received a paperback copy from the author in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review: Strange Medicine

My Rating:

Strange Medicine by Mike Rusell is a collection of 8 short stories. These stories are bizarre, to say the least. Having read his previous collection of short stories, I was definitely stoked to read this one. But I was apprehensive of the fact that the stories might feel repetitive. Well, that was definitely not the case. I enjoyed this collection as much as I enjoyed the previous one.

The stories were enchanting and kept me hooked till the end. The subjects ranged from strange telephonic conversations to mime artists to missing brains. The book is not a simple read. You would try to find hidden meanings behind the stories but end up confusing yourself even more. A good kind of confusion, I swear. My reading journey was purely a bliss and this got me out of my reading slump.

The author has beautifully woven the narrative in simple language.

Though the collection contains only 8 stories, the diversity in the characters was intriguing. Each story is weird in its own unique way. Some stories were fun, some were crazy, some had a deep meaning and some didn't make sense at all. But these twisted tales will leave you wanting for more.  

Leaving you with my favorite quote

Sometimes the suffering of one individual is so great that it renders unjustifiable any purpose that the universe could possibly have.

PS: I received the digital copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

5 stages of Reading Slump

Hi, guys!

How are you? I missed blogging so much. So, I am back almost after a month. I was away for this long owing to the worst and the longest ever reading slump of my life. I couldn't read or write anything. And now, that I have started recovering(somewhat) I thought I should tell you guys what I was going through this past month. So, presenting to you the 5 stages of a reading slump.

Stage 1: Denial

It has been 2-3 days since you last read anything. You know something is missing. The day feels incomplete. But you don't want to acknowledge. You blame it on your ever increasing To-do list at work. You don't have time to read because you are busy hanging out with your friends ( FYI: I only talk to 2 people, that's the only social life I have :p). You give random excuses to yourself because you don't want to use the dreaded s-word.

  via GIPHY

Stage 2: Try, try and you shall exceed. Or not.

Now, that you are slowly coming to the terms with the fact that you haven't read anything in a week, you decide that you are not going down easily. You pick up the book that you wanted to read since forever but haven't had the time to read. You set up a cozy reading nook and brew your favorite coffee and dive right into the book. But it ain't this easy, is it?


via GIPHY


Stage 3: Distractions! Distractions!

Just as you finish reading page number 1, your mind wanders off to a completely different tangent. You start making up scenarios in your head. What if one day you get a chance to meet Channing Tatum?( Come on ladies, don't deny that one :p) Or how would you react if you meet a guy exactly like your book boyfriend in real life? Or what will you have for your next meal?( Happens with me a lot :p ) And as one thousand thoughts keep racing on in your mind, you have already read 10 pages without understanding anything. Scary, right?

via GIPHY

Stage 4: Panic Attack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And now the most dreaded stage of all. This is where the panic sets in. You are not able to get into new books so you try going back to your favorite books/authors. You google everything that is there to know about the slump. You keep pestering people to tell you how to get out of one. You cry. You rant. You go crazy. And then the most terrifying thought enters your mind. " What if you are not able to read however hard you try? WHAT IF YOU ARE NOT A READER ANYMORE?


via GIPHY

Stage 5: Acceptance.

This is where you finally accept that you, in fact, are in a reading slump. And the only way out is to wait it out. And hope for the best.


via GIPHY

So, this is how I deal ( deal?) with the reading slump. Do let me know what you guys do. Until next time! Ciao!

Book Review: Unns- The Captivation

My Rating: 

Blurb from Goodreads:

"Of course you know about the seven stages of love, but have you ever lived them?"

Atharva Rathod and Meher Qasim. 

Lovebirds since adolescence. Bonded by love, separated by circumstances. They part ways only to meet again. But this time, he is on a secret mission...

Are they in control of their own destiny, or its their destiny which is making them dance to its tunes? Only time would answer, as Atharva and Meher unwillingly and unknowingly transcend the seven stages of love. 

A quintessential tale of love and romance marked beautifully by its own rustic old school charm. 

My Review:

Unns-The Captivation by Sapan Saxena is a "quintessential tale of love and romance". This is the story of Atharva Rathod and Meher Qasim. Atharva is a senior RAW agent and Meher is a businesswoman. Their love story begins in school and takes various turns and twists throughout the plot.

The book talks about seven stages of love which are explained beautifully in the novel. The author has seamlessly woven each stage into the plot as the story develops. The first 20-30 pages were difficult to get through and seemed unnecessary. It gives you an impression that the book is going to be about school romance but as the story moves forward, it gets exciting. You wait with bated breath as to what will happen next while they solve the cases.

The characters are well developed. Atharva comes across as a hopeful and optimistic person while Meher's character has several shades.  I liked how the author makes you go through so many emotions of love, hope, betrayal, and disappointment. The language is simple which makes it a breezy read. 

There are some loopholes due to which the story doesn't flow smoothly. In some parts, the events unfolded quite abruptly which was an impediment to the flow of the story.

 In a nutshell, pick up this book if you want to read a love story with a hint of mystery.

You can Buy the book from here. 

PS: I received a copy from Half Baked Beans in exchange for an honest review.

Book Tour: God's Easter Miracles

•  Publisher: GLM PUBLISHING (February 1, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0997332514
• ISBN-13: 978-0997332513 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Paul, Jimmy, Brian and the whole town witness God's Easter miracles in this unique story. God’s Easter Miracles highlights God’s love and provision to His children. The lessons learned are not only about Jesus’s resurrection, but also awareness of treating children with Autism with love and respect, and taking care of God’s creations. As in previous books, God’s Easter Miracles establishes characters that children can relate to, while capturing their imagination and touching their hearts in a loving way. Written in a fun and endearing way, God’s Easter Miracles also provides interactive entertainment by including hidden symbols for children to locate throughout the book.

PURCHASE GOD'S EASTER MIRACLES ON AMAZON.COM

ABOUT LEE ANN MANCINI

Lee Ann Mancini’s desire is for children to begin to know and love Jesus from an early age. This passion led her to seek out books for her own children that portrayed an active relationship with Jesus in a relatable way. She knew communicating God’s truth through captivating words and compelling illustrations is a crucial part of establishing that foundation.

An adjunct professor at South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary, Mancini holds a master’s degree in Christian studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School as well as Knox Theological Seminary. She holds a board position with the Florida Authors and Publishers Association and the Alexandrian Forum and maintains memberships with organizations such as the Christian Small Publishers Association and the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.

Mancini is an active member in her local community, visiting schools to share the Adventures of the Sea Kids series with children, as well as speaking to women’s groups about the redemptive power of the Gospel represented through the types of brides of the church. Learn more about Mancini and the Adventures of the Sea Kids at glmpublishing.net.

Book Review: Nothing is Strange

My Rating:

Nothing is strange by Mike Russell is a collection of twenty short stories. These stories are "otherworldly, magical, surreal, funny, disturbing and unique". 

First of all, I was fascinated by the design of book cover. It is unusual, philosophical, funny eye-catching and strange just like the book. And don't let the title mislead you. Everything is strange in this book. The stories are bizarre and will make little sense if taken at their face value. The stories are deep, open-ended, philosophical, funny and even downright spooky.

Since each person will interpret every story differently, it makes no sense talking about them. Instead, I will share my reading journey.

I was in a state of constant wonder. I was building up scenarios in my head attempting to find the meanings of the stories.At various points, while reading the book, I was trying to decipher what the author was thinking when he was writing these stories. The author has used colors and aural imagery which definitely helped in imagining those bizarre characters and plot lines. , there was nothing that could be construed absolutely, there was something that kept me going on. I wanted to see how surreal the characters can get. 

Even after you finish reading the book, the stories linger on in your mind. You appreciate and curse the author at the same time for writing such brilliant stories. My favorite ones are "The Diaries of Sun City" and "Dunce'

This is one of those books which you would want other people to read so you can discuss various interpretations of the stories.

One caveat here, people who like to read the stories with a definite ending won't like this book. This book is for the people who would like to push their reading boundaries. 

I highly recommend this book.

PS: I received the PDF copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: 4 AM Conversations

My rating: 

4 AM Conversations with the ghosts of old lovers is a collection of poems and mini-tales by Ayushee Ghoshal. The book is divided into nine sections.  The poems and the stories are centred on varying themes such as yearning for a lost lover, knowing when to hold on and when to give up, understanding how sometimes all you need is to let go, loving yourself and hope. The themes will appeal to everyone.

The themes keep on alternating which made it an interesting mix of poems and stories. The placement of text in particular parts of the pages made the reading process more delightful for me. The vocabulary is simple yet it does not fail to convey the feelings and emotions of the author. The tone is melancholic yet hopeful.The content flows smoothly throughout the poems.

For me, the reading process was loaded with many emotions. Initially, I was a little suspicious about the book but after reading the first two pages, I was certain I was in for an emotional roller coaster ride. I liked stories more than the poems. My favourite stories are Lessons in Forgetting and The Girl she used to be.

Leaving you with my favourite quote:

 Let hope break you.

And then allow hopelessness

To set you free.

PS: The book was sent to me by the publishers in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Tour : Accidental Arrangements by Alexandra Warren

Publication Date: December 20, 2016

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC

Language: English

ASIN: B01N4GE312

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Not all arrangements are truly by design. Some happen by chance, by fate, by… accident.

Jules Tyler is in desperate need of a roommate. Levi Graham is in desperate need of a room. And while it may seem like the perfect match from the outside, it doesn’t take long for egos, expectations, and experiences to say otherwise.

But what happens when the proximity builds a chemistry between them that neither is prepared to handle? Will living as roommates become too much to bear? Or will it be the perfect jumpstart to a happily ever after?

*Note: While it can be read as a standalone, this book does contain major spoilers for
the Spite Series.

PURCHASE ACCIDENTAL ARRANGEMENTS ON AMAZON.COM

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR:

Alexandra Warren is a twenty-something-year-old Nebraska girl who enjoys teaching, blogging, traveling, and of course, writing. Contemporary Romance novellas are her absolute favorite to write as well as to read. With thirteen books under her belt, and more on the way, she
is excited to see what 2017 will bring!

Readers can learn more about Alexandra on  her website.

Book Review: The Four Patriots

My Rating:

The Four Patriots by Sumit Agarwal is a story about “friendship, faith and courage, replete with romance and patriotism. It is a tale of four youngsters who want to contribute to the betterment of India. The Quadro as they have been called in the book consists of Varun, an NRI software engineer: Salman, CEO of Coffee Moments: Raghav, a virtuous politician; and Aditya, an altruistic businessman.

The book is divided into two parts. The first part takes us through the lives of all the characters. There are four parallel story lines. Since there were too many characters, initially, it was difficult to keep a track of what was happening with whom but as I got into it, it became easier. The language is simple.

The second part is where the real action happens. These four characters come together and work as a team to solve all the problems. One can see the author’s passion to see India as a developed country in the way he engages with every possible problem that is plaguing our system from corruption to terrorism to black money. This part was rather dramatic. Almost Bollywood-like.

There is not a single dull moment in the book as the narrative is very eventful. It keeps you at the edge of your seat. How the characters emerge victoriously from every problem is very interesting to read.

The only thing I didn’t like is the weak portrayal of female characters. The tone is rather judgmental.  The author should have made an effort to delve deeper into building up the characters.

In a nutshell, pick up this book if you are looking to read something racy and entertaining.

Disclaimer: I received the copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.