Klishmaklaver

  Book Title: dopehri  Publishers: HarperPerennial India (Hardcover) Author's Name: Pankaj Kapur ( Translated from Hindustani by Rahul Soni)  About the Author:  Pankaj Kapur is a versatile, and acclaimed actor of Hindi Theatre, Film & Television with a string of awards including the National Film Award to his credit.  In November 2019, he made his literature debut with this book  which he had written in 1992. My Rating: 3/5 ⭐ 'dopehri' felt like a 90+ pages Long Short Story, not a novella. Read it in 60 minutes flat without skipping a single word.  The author, Pankaj Kapur is an illustrious actor and I've adored his performances ever since I was hooked onto watching 'Karamchand' as a kid. Probably, this was what triggered the great expectations from this little book. W e know he has an impeccable command over the Hindi language. I really wish I'd read 'dopehri' in its original avatar first, instead of this translated English version.  While re...

Book Title: City Under Curfew and other stories Author: Fazayal Shabbir Publishers: Leadstart Publishing My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 About the Author:  Fazayal Shabbir has followed the traditional route of mechanical engineering topped with a post graduate diploma in business management on the academic front but is unconventional in other aspects of his life. He holds a black belt in Judo and accomplishments at state level, and sports is closest to his heart. Book Review: It is an assorted collection of 12 short stories which make for quick and easy reading. I find paperbacks keep me hooked longer than ebooks do and such stories are the easiest way to bring me back into the rhythm of reading. I could relate to the title story the most because I'm a 90s kid from Mumbai who has seen those scenes of curfew during the Hindu- Muslim riots and the cold-blooded encounters in by-lanes. I was a tad bit sad that the remaining stories that follow in the book are not based on the same topic and neither ...

  Book Name: Written in Tears Author Name:  Arupa Patangia Kalita- Translated from the Assamese by Ranjita Biswas About the Author & the Translator: Arupa Patangia Kalita is the recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award for her short stories, the Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad Award, and the Katha Prize. She is adulated as one of the most outstanding voices of fiction writing in contemporary Assamese literature.  Ranjita Biswas who has beautifully translated ‘Written in Tears’ is an award-winning translator herself.  Publisher: Harper Collins India My Rating:  ****/5 'Written in Tears' is a collection of 8 short stories about the life in Assam, which just made me realise that one must read a lot, and reading more stories from different parts of our world is a MUST. While most of the stories have been told from the point of view of the women of Assam and showcases how they lived, their beliefs, and struggles, ' Face in the Mirror' gave me a jolt. Probably because it ...

  Book Title: Arranged Marriage Author Name: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni Publishers: Kindle Edition My Rating: 5/5⭐ About the Author: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni won the American Book Award for this book. She writes for children as well as adults and has written in multiple genres including historical, mythology as well as fantasy.  This is the second Indian- American author I've read as we celebrate Women's History Month for #FemmeMarchAtWomaniyat-Week #2 prompt: Literary Fiction  It's a collection of 11 short stories that capture the life of Bengali women based in Calcutta and America. As the title suggests all the stories highlight the flawed concept of the arranged marriage and the traditional patriarchal mold in which it has been shaped, stuffed and crammed as per convenience since ages. Each story is different from the next, which will go at your heart with a wrench, leaving you wondering how women suffered it in silent submission. Why did it take so much time to shak...

  "Unbelievable! She flipped it neatly, and turned it again too, within minutes," her teenager son looked up at her in awe. " I know son, I was watching your Ma too!" Pa chuckled and beamed a smile at her as she brought steaming chapattis and settled at the table. "Ma, how did you do that?"  " You made it look as easy as flipping these chapattis," Pa interjected, giving her palm a loving squeeze.  "The helicopter I was flying can backflip from a hovering position because it's got semi-rigid rotor systems. After I've  established a positive 'G' on the rotor blades it co-operates, letting me pull-off a clean back-flip!" She was mentally back in the cockpit as she explained, passionately. "Mind- blowing, Ma!  My friends joke that  girls can't drive cars." "Tell them, the woman of today can sail her own boat and sink your ship too if she decides to," Ma laughed. 🚁  This 150 words microtale was origin...

  Book Title: Interpreter of Maladies.  Author Name: Jhumpa Lahiri.  Publishers: Harper Collins India.  About the Author: Nilanjana Sudeshna "Jhumpa" Lahiri, born July 11, 1967 is an American author of Indian origin who is best known for her short stories, novels and essays in English, and, more recently, in Italian. My Rating: 5/5⭐ Interpreter of Maladies is a collection of nine short stories by Jhumpa Lahirihi. This book has received great laurels like the Pulitzer Prize and the Hemingway Award for Fiction.   I'd first read her 'Namesake' when I was a teenager and ever since I've remained totally floored by her writing style. So for the first week of #FemmeMarchAtWomaniyat I decided to re-read theses stories that brought her into the literary limelight. Her stories are women centric for sure but more than feminism, I feel the beauty of her writing is in her eye for details; her impeccable English with superb vocabulary used to describe the smallest n...

  Book Title: The Guide Author: R.K. Narayan Publisher: Penguin Classics My Rating:  *****/5 About The Author:  R. K. Narayan,    (born October 10, 1906, Madras [Chennai], India—died May 13, 2001, Madras), one of the finest Indian authors of his generation writing in English. He  was famous for his works set in the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi.   This is just an attempt to bring the spotlight back onto a great book by an Indian author. Not that it's forgotten, but because this beautiful book needs to be celebrated more as the years go by.... 'The Guide' is a novel written by the illustrious author in 1958, which    brought him the 1960 Sahitya Akademi Award for English, by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters.  So it is pointless to even try and review such a great novel that was also adapted into the Filmfare Awardee movie of 1965 starring Dev Anand as the protagonist Raju Guide and the ever gorgeous lady W...

  Book Title: Love, Ladies & Siyaappa Author : Jiganshu Sharma Publisher: Self-published My rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5  (For 18+)Mature content alert!  Originally a Punjabi-Urdu word, 'Siyappa' means wailing loudly when one has fallen into trouble, but this word is largely used like some sort of a cool word. Hence I was expecting more humour from the book, going by the 'Chick-lit' like look of the book-cover.  Here is a collection of 6 short stories written by the author which are based on the North Indian culture and society, presented along with a few articles by other women. This book touches upon the different scenarios revolving around intimacy issures and physical abuse. The author has tried to question the coercions women face, and secretly suffer but are never allowed to raise a voice against.  The first story addresses the age old problem of the stereotypical MIL's obsession of having her Daughter-in- law produce an offspring on demand for the sake of the f...

Book Title: On A Journey Of Life Author: Kajal Rai & Nivedita Karmaran Self-Published on Amazon Kindle Pub (Ebook format) My Rating: ***** On A Journey Of Life  offers you two (long) short stories by two authors namely, As The Miles Went By written by Kajal Rai & That Summer written by Nivedita Karmaran. Both the stories in the book complement each other beautifully. The commonalities between the two separate stories are that each have a female protagonist who has embarked on a journey of self-discovery, by peeking into their individual pasts. In  As The Miles Went By,  the protagonist  Saanchi Avasthi  reads her late mother's diary, and decides to go on a spontaneous road trip to the mountains of Uttarkashi, while in  That Summer,  a recluse yet free-spirited Rashi Anand is writing a letter to her dear old friend and revisiting her past, thus taking the readers along on the proverbial journey of her life.  What I loved about the book wa...

Book Title: Kafka on the Shore Author: Haruki Murakami Translated by Philip Gabriel Publisher: Random House  (Penguin Vintage Books) My Rating: **** About the Author: Haruki Murakami is a  popular contemporary Japanese writer, who  studied drama at Waseda University in Tokyo.  His writing is  heavily influenced by Western culture, particularly Western music and literature. His books have been translated into more than 50 languages and many international honours and awards have also been conferred upon him. I'd read that Haruki Murakami's books are easily accessible yet profoundly complex. After reading 'Kafka on the Shore', I understand what that exactly means.  As a professionally trained commercial artist, I've learnt about 'Surrealism' as an art but I've never seen it applied to writing, in this fantastic a manner. Haruki Murakami is a magician as far as this book goes! The book progresses simultaneously in two parts- All the odd number chapters is in...

  Book Title:  Smörgåsbord of Musings Author: Rathnakumar Raghunath Publishers: Goya Publishing My Rating: **** About the Author: Rathnakumar Raghunath  was born in 1988, in Chennai, India. While he was more inclined towards music as a child, as he grew older, he developed a passion for languages. In school, he wrote a couple of short stories and won the Camlin Young Author award for his work, 'It Happened One Night' Smörgåsbord of Musings- the book with the typographical cover in pretty colors is a classic example of how simplicity can be extremely beautiful and unforgettable. The title is  so intriguing! I was longing to read the author's musings ever since the day I heard another book reviewer read from the book. Smörgåsbord typically means a Scandinavian celebratory meal served in the buffet style. Here the author has indeed served us a sumptuous fare of the widest variety of thoughts,  poems, anecdotes and all expressed from the points of view of different ...

 Book Title: Stories From the City Called Kolkata Author: Ishita Ganguly Publishers: Evincepub Publishing My Rating: ***1/2 About the Author: Ishita Ganguly has worked in the corporate and also the academic sector having double master’s degree, MSc and MBA. But finally, her childhood passion for writing turned her towards a profession she had never planned. She believes this profession chose her! Till now her published work includes articles on multiple niches, short stories, and poems. She is the co-author of 3 popular anthologies and winner of multiple writing contests.  'Stories From the City Called Kolkata' is a collection of 10 short stories telling the realistic tales of the humble and simple middle class life in Kolkata. Beginning with the beautiful Black & White book cover, that captures the iconic look and feel of the city, every story reminded me of my personal experience of the city, and the lifestyle seen in old Bengali movies. It transported me to that wo...

  Book Title: You Will Sail Through Author: Abhishek Bhargava Publishers: BlueRose Publishers My Ratings: ***  About the Author:  Abhishek Bhargava is an MBA from Symbiosis Institute of International Business, Pune, Batch of 2015-17 and currently works with a Consulting organization based in Bengaluru, India.  Along with an MBA, Abhishek holds a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering.  Hailing from Vidisha, a town near Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Abhishek has a knack of storytelling and writing since his school and college days where he won numerous accolades in the likes of debate competitions. Nobody's journey of life is devoid of hardships and hurdles, but very few take lessons from experiences. Leave alone thinking of writing a book that can guide peers at sailing through smoothly. This book by a Millenial for the Millenials is in fact a treasury that we can enrich ourselves by reading.  A non-fiction book in the garb of storytelling, Abhishek Bhargava-t...

  The VIKRAMADITYA VEERGATHA Book Series will be complete with the release of the 4th book- The Wrath Of The Hellfires in December. The book is available for pre-order on Amazon now! Book Review of Book 1- The Guardians of Halahala can be read HERE Book Title: Book 2- The Conspiracy at Meru Author: Shaturjeet Nath Publisher: Jaico Books My Rating: ***** VICTORY IS TEMPORARY. THE BATTLE IS ETERNAL.- The Logline of the book itself told me that Vikramaditya and his Council of Nine would have many hurdles to face as the Guardians of the Halahala. The story was getting more interesting! The author has successfully created a world that was much beyond my imagination and far more layered than any Indian mytho- fantasy fiction I've ever read. I won't be exaggerating if I say that the book is worth reading for the most elaborate, and well-articulated battle scenes. The attack of the Vyalas- mythical creatures is one of the most gripping passages, the Maruts fighting back valiantly with ...

  Book Title: Tuesdays With Morrie Author: Mitch Albom Publishers: Hachette India My Rating: ***** About the Author:  Mitchell David Albom  is an author, journalist, screenwriter, playwright, radio and television broadcaster and musician. Mitch Albom the author begins visiting his aged college professor, Morrie Schwartz who is terminally ill. Every Tuesday he flies to meet the dying sociology professor and records all that the old man has to share. I am so thankful to the young man and to the old man for sharing life's greatest lessons through this memoir. This is one non-fictional book that I found greatly inspirational.  One would think that a dying man's memoir would be greatly melancholic and depressing. The topic of death is always scary and causes anxiety to most of us, but this book is anything but that! Morrie is a cheery professor, greatly energetic despite his failing health and so intent on proving that 'dying' doesn't mean 'useless'. Impending ...

  Book Title: Subtle Echoes (Kindle Edition) Author/Poet: Tehmeena Salam Publishers: Fanatixx Publication My Rating: **** About the Author: Tehmeena Salam is the Co-Author in five anthologies which hold a World Record, published by FanatiXx Publication. She has also published her poetries in more than 15 anthologies. The beauty of the UT Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has seen this flower blossom through her days. A post kidney transplant patient and survivor of graft rejection, she is pursuing her ambition as an MBBS student in Andaman and Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences (ANIIMS). A big thankyou to Tehmeena Salaam for giving me her book for reading and reviewing. However I assure my readers that my opinions of the work remain unbiased.  Subtle Echoes is a mixed collection of 48 pieces of poems and letters, each unique, each beautifully expressed. There are many aspects about this book that sets it apart from the books of its genre. Firstly, it's the poet's cr...

Book Title: Yakshini (Kindle Edition) Author: Neil D'Silva Publishers: Rupa Publications My Rating: ***** About the Author: Neil D'Silva is an author of 12 horror novels and Yakshini is yet another of his books that has been acquired for screen adaptation. He is the President of the Indian Chapter of the Horror Writers Association, and is also a TEDx Speaker.  Let me make a disclaimer before I begin to talk about this book. Even though I am in the author's circle of virtual friends and I've been a fan of his writing since his very first book, this particular book review has not been solicited by the author and neither is my impression of the book biased.  Like I've said many times before, I pick a book by it's cover, quite literally. It has got to be love at first sight! And then a little knowledge about the author and his style helps. Sometimes I veer towards books via recommendations by like-minded friends but I stopped reading back blurbs long ago. As soo...

  Book Title:  A Fool's Errand ( Kindle Edition ) Author:  Vanita Bodke Publisher:  Self Published  My Rating:  *** About the Author:  Vanita Bodke started writing when she realized she did not just prefer marching to the tune of a different drummer, but that she rather liked being that drummer herself. This is her second published novella, following Fault of 2018. Her short story "Winds of Change" was published in the Unbound e-magazine.  Vanita lives in Navi Mumbai with her husband and son.  The Fool's Errand is a 566 pages Novella that made for an easy breezy read. A long narrative for a short story, which I think the author could have easily expanded into a full length novel if she wished to, because she was onto something of a good tale. As one begins to read, one would imagine that the  protagonist Revati Kadam is in a love triangle, torn between her present husband Ritwik and her ex-boyfriend Vijendra Singh who is trying to make a...

  I'd be lying, If I said, I don't care About what I wear! I am honest, When I say, I notice your shoe, Before I see you! What I expect, Is bigger than your gift, Valued in money, Not your love honey! It's the truth, Nobody can deny, This world is materialistic, Judgemental and plastic. Am I wrong, In blaming society, For the twisted and fake, Facades that we make. Isn't it true, The real self, We don't ever show, Nobody will know! The tongue speaks sweet, But the eyes don't smile, The friends we make, Are for company's sake. A thousand secrets and a million lies, To live one life, How terribly brave, To carry it all in our heart to our grave!

Some souls were blessed to have a higher sense of purpose in life. I simply had a heightened sense of smell. The citrus aroma wafting in from our yard that morning, was so strong that it worked like an instant pick-me-up. I’d rushed out through the back door, and plonked myself down in front of my lemon tree. Sitting there in the Padmasana , my humble Gandharaj Lebu appeared like the Bodhi tree to me . I listened intently to all that it had to teach me. I felt one with my sunlight-loving citrus. Watering the soil to keep it moist, and pruning the bush was an act of love, never a mundane chore. Sometimes I’d be sitting so still before it, undistracted, besotted by its yellow-green colour palette, interspersed by the white of the fragrant blossoms. At other times, I would hum a song to it. That day too, I could have continued sitting there for hours on end, wet earth or not! If it wasn’t for Granny Mori, off to Sunday Church, dressed in black. Ever since the demise ...