Book Review - The Bestseller She Wrote by Ravi Subramanian

About The Author:

An alumnus of IIM Bangalore, Ravi Subramanian is the author of multiple best-selling commercial novels. Head on to his official website for more details - http://www.ravisubramanian.in/

The Blurb Says:

Paperback King, Aditya Kapoor, seems to have it all. Not only is he India s hottest and best-selling author, his enormous stardom is perfectly balanced by a lovely home, a loving wife and a stable career in banking. With everything he touches turning to gold, Aditya is on a winning streak. Shreya Kaushik is a student with a heart full of big dreams. Young, beautiful, and ambitious, Shreya speaks her mind and knows what she wants.

What happens when their worlds collide? Is it possible to love two people at the same time? Can ambition come in the way of passion?

The Bestseller... She Wrote is a story of illicit love, destructive jealousy and overriding ambition. As master story-teller Ravi Subramanian delves into the world of publishing and explores an unlikely romance between a best-selling author and his nubile protégé, faces will be unmasked and truths will be revealed. Sit tight and read on...

The Cover:

Bright Yellow base makes the book stand out from others in the bookshelf. The caption ‘Love, Betrayal, Redemption’ below two beautiful faces under a book clearly portray the basic plot of book.

About The Book

Ravi Subramanian is an established author and the efforts he has put in romance thriller are clearly visible in the book. May be it's because of this visibility of efforts; I have mixed review on this book. It liked reading it, but then there was something missing.

The story is not new, but the addition of details of writing and publishing a book gave an extra edge to all time it extramarital affair gossip.

What I Liked:

1. Simple Language and Short Chapters - The language us quite simple with just the right amount of fancy words used here and there. The chapters were crisp and short making sure that the story line is not dragged upon.

2. Book Writing - I absolutely loved the idea of getting to know the details of writing a book and getting it through publishing and in book-stores.

3. Society Viewpoint – In the society we live in, man generally blames his mistakes upon the woman itself – “She was too busy with kids”, “She stopped paying attention to me”, “I was deprived of love and pampering” etc. I was glad that Aditya openly accepted his mistake and made no excuses for the same.

What I Did Not Like:

1. Predictable - From the very beginning I could sense the end of story and was hoping that it might turn into something else. But I was disappointed. Even the reason of character who messed up the lead Aditya's life was same old cheap reason.

2. Unreal characters – Aditya to be precise. I could not digest the fact that Aditya loved his wife dearly and still he went weak in his knees when he saw Shreya while Maya was lying on the death bed. Even after he was sure that the girl made his life a living hell, he was attracted to her with lust. Hero of the book emerges out as a complete looser and total snub.

3. Missing link – The story completely skips the link where editor of publishing house found Maya’s manuscript a real-life story.

Mr. Subramanian has tried his level best to do better than Chetan Bhagat (nor that I am hi fan, but I do not hate his writing as well). I read at some review that the book is quite near to Nicholas Sparks! The ending speech of Aditya was very emotional, but it nowhere matched the density and warmth of Mr. Sparks (I am a fan of his letters). Still, I must admit that I could not put the book down till I had finished reading it.

Below are some life/writing lessons to be noted from the book:

‘Nerdy and well-read are two completely different personality traits,’

‘Relationships with the right people always pay in life,’

‘One day, Sunaina, I am telling you . . . one day. I will be a world-famous author. You will be proud of me.’

‘Life is all about choices you make…’

'If instead of malls we built libraries, the future generations would be a lot smarter.’

Without these bookstores, there will be no books, and without books, there will be no culture

A male mind can process so much information in nanoseconds when it comes to a woman’s body that no supercomputer can match it.

The problem with trust is that if it is broken, then all acts committed by the perpetrator come under the purview of suspicion.

Nothing in life is more wretched than the mind of a man conscious of his guilt.

‘Cheating is never a mistake. It is a choice’,

A lottery gives you a better chance at success than getting a book published."

The vestiges of the past, unless buried, will always keep cropping up and impact relationships

‘Life is binary in many ways. There is no way that we can move away from each other slowly and painlessly. There has to be a complete exit’

Would I recommend “The Bestseller She Wrote” to someone?

Well, I might do so if when the person asks me for its feedback. 

The book can be brought from following links:

Amazon-Paperback    Amazon-Kindle Edition      Flipkart

  

Read my Book Review for Ravi Subramanian's another thriller -  God Is A Gamer

Have you read Ravi Subramanian? If yes, which genre did you liked more - Romance or Thriller?

I am reviewing ‘The Bestseller She Wrote’ by Ravi Subramanian as a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books!

Sexual Violence – Report and Bust the Devil

Sexual violence is another term given to inhuman act of humans themselves towards their own species. I was not surprised when I learned that only 1 out of 100 women who face sexual violence every report it to the police. (National Family Health Survey (2005-06)).

What stops us to raise our voice against the crime? Why do we not report these cases? There is however one question more important than this and must be written or asked in bold letter or louder voice – “Why is it important to encourage reporting sexual violence?”

I gave a deep thought and came up with my own answer to the question:

1. We want our children to become humans

It is very rightly (to a great extent) said that home is the biggest school and children learn the lessons of life from their parents rather than their teachers. From centuries, many young and innocent minds have inherited the art of respecting or did-respecting women around them from their immediate family members. Sons take no time to become the actual figure from mere shadows of their fathers. Daughters often learn to live the life as their mothers lived - with some amendments owing to present generation.

He called her name

He slapped her to tame

He pulled her hair to room

The son is too small

The son would be afraid

He shut her woes

The son heard her crying

He lied to them

He threatened them

He abused them

He hit them!

He learned from him

The little boy who witnessed everything right form his childhood many times take the same route and parents are reminded of the popular saying – ‘As you sow, so shall you reap!

2. We want to make a difference

A child would never learn to walk if she does not overcome the internal fear of falling down. Once a child takes that first step forward, walking becomes just another natural trait for her. Similarly, I believe that if we do not try and report sexual violence or any such activity, we would never be able to put the laws to our good use. Till that day, we would live under same illusion of fear that ‘if I do this, I might face these consequences’. I agree the path is generally very rocky and full of hurdles, but then, the fruit thus received is worth the pride.

The day we start reporting more and more of them, is the day we make sure that we are aware of our rights and thus, that is the day we would take first and only step to ‘Equality’.

3. Sexual Violence should be reported

I find no reason convincing enough to ‘not’ to raise voices against sexual violence. The only method one can make sure that the voice risen in thus heard is by reporting them. Thus it is important to encourage reporting sexual violence because ‘It is important to report sexual violence’.

 If the above reasons are not good enough to encourage reporting sexual violence, following facts from law might prove motivating:

Snapshot source

Let’s take the first step to encouragement by making them aware of the basics. To do my bit, I would bring up the above points on some of the safety session I have in office. Word of mouth is the best way to spread the word.

Did you take your step?

I’m writing this blog post to support Amnesty International’s #KnowYourRights campaign at BlogAdda. You can also contribute to the cause by donating or spreading the word.

The Bridal Pyre by Avantika Debnath

About The Author

Coming from Kolkata, West Bengal, Avantika Debnath currently stays in Hyderabad and professionally works as an HR. She has also been a regular contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Indian Soul series. She can be reached at Avantika.dg@gmail.com

About The Book

The Blurb says

"Girls need to adjust a little after marriage." Said her mother. And she obeyed her mother's words. She gave up on her dreams... her hopes... her happiness... her self-respect... her father's dignity... her mother's honor... and herself. But she couldn't give up on her child. The child whom she never saw, named, or held close to her heart...The child whom she couldn't give birth to. She obeyed her mother's words but then.... Her own motherhood was taken away from her. She blew the conch shell and declared a war. She stood against all, the husband, the society, the law of the land and the leaders of the people. The local goons....politicians ...corrupt police officers and lawyers...irresponsible judges...the opportunist media...the futile judicial system...wasted legal system...no one could stop her. She feared none. She could not be broken or be burnt....And they said even the holy Ganga would refuse to immerse her... She was no more a body with a soul. She was a soul with a body. And the soul doesn't get torn, doesn't get drowned, and doesn't get burnt. She sat on her pyre and set it ablaze....The Bridal Pyre....but, Nainam Dahati Pawakah

Cover Page

'A beautiful bride with curious looks inside the blaze of havan kund' is near to perfect for the subject of book. Good job done by the designer.

What I Felt About the Book

There is a general misconception that physical and verbal abuse at home is only faced by uneducated women. Society very easily and wrongly assumes that an educated woman would never let such things happen to her.  "The Bridal Pyre' makes all these myths stand in queue along with corruption and politics prevailing at all levels.

There are some sections in the book would make the reader nod in agreement to their conclusion. Like-

-End of first chapter itself. It’s so bitter to read a daughter thinking those things for her mother, but they are all true at the same time

-Helplessness of parents in our society when it comes to their daughter and her life

What I Liked About the Book

1. Poems - Kudos to Avantika for brilliant effort on poems every now and then. I absolutely loved them and might even dedicate some post to the same.

2. The end - I like a story when the end is unexpected.

What I Did Not Like About the Book

1. Daily soap saga - Unfortunately, at many points I felt that I am reading a printed version of some typical daily soap where the cruel mother in law is not leaving any stone unturned to torture her poor daughter in law at the back of her dear son. I so wish the author was able to script those sections minus this effect.

Below are some lines to be marked as quotes from the book:

She sat on her pyre and set it ablaze….The Bridal Pyre….but

“May be I am not a man, but what made you think that I am not strong?”

**All The Poems**

The author has once again brought one of the ever 'In News' topic under crime against women in limelight with her debut novel.  Best of luck to her future endeavours.

Note: A PDF copy of the book was sent by the author in exchange of honest review.

The book can be brought from following Amazon or Flipkart links:

 Amazon:

The Bridal Pyre - Nainam Dahati Pavakah

Flipkart:
The Bridal Pyre - Nainam Dahati Pawakah (English)

The Shadow Of The Dark Soul by Sukhmani Gandhi

About The Author: Sukhmani Gandhi is pursuing her graduation in philosophy from Lady Shri Ram College for Women. She was previously published in ‘We are Not Alone’, an anthology published in association with Mood Indigo in 2014.Her views on the word 'Freedom' were a part of Unbound e-magazine in 2015. She also secured the third position in a competition organized by Rising Literia that reflected her views on the topic 'Freedom Mask' and were published in e-Fiction India in 2015.She is currently doing intern-ship as a columnist at bunkpages .More from her pen can be read on her blog ‘sukhmanigandhi.wordpress.com’

About The Book

The blurb says:

'The Shadow Of The Dark Soul' is the story of Zayesha who is a twenty something journalist working in Delhi. Sensitive and compassionate she is a league apart from her contemporaries, who believe in the mantra of manufacturing or milking news. Cornered by her boss, she fights against time to work on the Nirbhaya case in order to save her job. Synchronicity plays a crucial, life- altering role in her life when a series of events make her question herself. During this phase, Zayesha comes across The Shadow of The Dark Soul, thanks to her next door neighbor. Nothing stays the same afterwards as Zayesha is made to reassess everything. Will she manage to finish her report on the Nirbhaya case on time? How far will she go to step from armchair activism into the realities of life? Will she win in the end? The questions are many, but the answers lie within The Shadow of the Dark Soul, the maiden novel of Sukhmani Gandhi, a budding Delhi based writer.

Cover Page:

Dried rose over a green stem with blood spot in place of a leaf gives the book a mystery look.

What I Felt About the Book

"Weep because she died today. Celebrate because she woke us up"

I read this powerful quote somewhere on the day Delhi's brave heart Nirbhaya breathed her last breath. The book starts with author’s view on this incident and then takes over the storyline. Having read, heard and spoken so much about this, there is no scope of dis-interest for the subject - women safety.

Sukhmani Gandhi has conveyed her view point on ever debated topic of labelling the women who experienced different problems as 'Victims'. 

What I Liked About The Book:

1. Bold Writing - I really liked the author's fearless viewpoints made very clear.

2. Concept - The concept of letting the survivors live their life normally is much needed. 

What I Did Not like About The Book:

1. Spelling Mistakes and Typo Error - Spelling or grammatical mistakes and typo error are the biggest turn off's in any book. The rating could have gone up one complete start of they were avoided.

Below are some lines worth re-reading from the book:

Marriage is an easy substitute for rape?

One day humanity is going to vanish from our world

“If you get an opportunity to rape, would you do it?”

It is very important to know that rape is more the problem of the man. He is the one to be ostracised and not the woman.

The onus is on the men but the price is generally paid by the woman.

Born as a woman or a victim?

At the end I found 'The Shadow Of The Dark Soul' a thought provoking book and below lines from famous poem "On A Sunny Evening" suited just well on the message passed.

If in barbed wire things can bloom, why couldn't I? I will not die, I will not die.

The book can be brought from Amazon at - 

Note: PDF copy of the book was sent by the author for an honest review.

Books I can Recommend Without A Thought

A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies… The man who never reads lives only one. ~George R.R. Martin

I find myself smiling, crying, laughing, thinking, learning and what nothing while reading. Whenever I read a story or a book, I imagine myself in place of the characters.

There are times I love a book. Actually, I find it very difficult to say that I don’t like some book. I have tried my hand on writing many times and I know what it takes to write those words and convert them into pages and book. Still, there are some books which leave a mark on our soul and force us to think about.

I thought about my favourite book and there were 2 books which crossed my mind within seconds.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

I simple loved this book. Although I took a long time to finish reading it, I was mesmerized by the writing of Khaled Hosseini. This is the book about women and true friendship. The struggle of leading lady – Mariam made me realize that the little problems I face every day are nothing and how harsh life can be.

I can recommend this book with closed eyes to anyone with a small warning that its bit heavy on heart and mind. It’s an eye-opener to all those people who complain that life is not fair to them and a must read for people who underestimate women and their inner strength.

Click here to read my further views on A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom

I have no idea why this book always cross my mind when recommending some random reads. It’s fun and sad at the same time to read this book.

The mere mention of this book make me think about the incidents in my life which would be chosen by god so that I may relive them. Beware – the incidents need not be all smiles or all cries or even the ones we think left a mark on our own lives.

Click here to read my further views on The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom

Kristin Martz very aptly says – “We lose ourselves in books, we find ourselves there too”.

Do you like reading? Is there any book or story or author which comes to your sub-conscious on giving a thought on “Your favourite book or author”? Share it with me. I would love to explore new adventures!