TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN

Book Name: Turtles All The Way Down

Author Name: John Green

Publisher: Dutton

My Opinion:

The title of the book intrigued me and I decided to buy it. I will not give you the reason for the title of the book but I loved it a lot and ended up buying two more books of the same author, John Green.

This book deals with the protagonist Aza and her mental illness. Her dad passed away which leaves a sudden and deep void in her life which she doesn’t know how to tackle.

With her best friend Daisy, she hopes to find the missing millionaire, Russel Picket to get $10,000 reward money.
The millionaire’s son Davis come closer both help each other in their struggle. Aza helps Davis to come out from abandonment. Davis helps Aza come out of her spirals. But the book has much more in it.

This book discusses how mental illness affects one’s life. Aza knows her illness can be a nuisance to both family and friends. It also throws a light on how parents professional decisions can affect children’s mental health. Unlike the author’s other books, this book is less about romance and more about health of a person.

TARIKSHIR- THE AWAKENING

Book Name: Tarikshir- The Awakening

Author Name: Khayaal Patel

Publisher: Westland Publications

My Opinion:

The story has Ramayana epic references and sent in the British era. The prince Rudra Pratap Chauhan who is later appointed as King, must find whom to trust. The scenes where he has conflicts whether to support his mother or father’s ideologies was brought out well.

It is a thriller, having mythological creatures, which questions few conflicting questions- war or peace? Discharge of duties or using the power?
Most importantly it answers- why you should not let external forces control your mind and the devastations caused thereby.

It is a well paced story but seemed little rushed towards the end. There is mention of a few missing pages from the diary which could have been explained a bit more in detail, perhaps.

If you like reading the story with hint of romance and many twists, especially the last twist of Raavan and Shurpanakha, then you must read this.

RAAVAN- ENEMY OF ARYAVARTA

Book Name: Raavan- Enemy of Aryavarta

Author Name: Amish

Publisher: Westland Publications

My Opinion:

I could easily say this book was better than first two books of Ram Chandra Series. Initially when the title was Raavan The Orphan of Aryavarta, I felt this story would do justice in showing Raavan as a scholar who has lost his path. But some 70 pages into the story, you realise that Raavan The Enemy of Aryavarta is the apt title.

The story focuses on one-sided love of Raavan for Vedavati. There is a certain level worshipping, adoring, respecting and madness; a fresh take on Raavan-Vedavati aspect because all we had heard was Raavan had pursued Vedavati and she had jumped into fire. After her death, he becomes the Raavan everyone knows- drunk and womanizer Raavan.
Kumbhakarna’s conflict with hero worshipping his brother or following the path of dharma is shown beautifully.
Like in previous two books where current topics were blended into the story (rape of Roshini and Jallikattu), there is a verbal battle between Kumbhakarna and Raavan on Sabarimala Ayyappa Swamy Temple.
Definitely a must read book but I suggest you to read other two books in this series (if not Shiva Trilogy) to understand the world created by Amish Sir.

MANDODARI

Book Name: Mandodari

Author Name: Manini J Anandani

Publisher: Penguin India

My Opinion:

According to Hindu Scriptures, there are panchkanyas, or five virgins (not the literal virgin, because that’s not what virgin means in these scriptures; they imply that virgin means one who is pure). When I read the title, I thought it will be narrated in what happened in her life but it wasn’t. The story is Ravana’s wife, Mandodari; everything in this book is in that sense.The good thing about the book is she is portrayed as a normal person, she is jealous when her husband takes other wives yet she keeps her head high as a Queen must. The story tells us that Sita was daughter of Mandodari and Ravana, who was then abandoned. A few versions of Ramayana holds this part true.
There are some beautiful scenes. For instance, Ravana goes to check her after she gives birth to their first son instead of checking him and thanks her for making him a father.
The problem with the story was there were paragraphs where I felt I was reading some facts. Lanka was just described but not built as a city. There was a good possibility of exploring the situation where Mandodari’s own daughter Sita was held as prisoner in Lanka. Though the book had a promising perspective, it seemed half baked.

THE ZOYA FACTOR

Book Name: The Zoya Factor

Author Name: Anuja Chauhan

Publisher: HarperCollins

My Opinion:

Zoya Solanki was born on the historic day, 25th March, 1983; the day when India won the Cricket World Cup. This is a big deal in India and if you don’t believe, the protagonist was about to be named Kapila Devi Solanki, after the Cricket Team Captain then, Kapil Dev. Zoya who is an advertising executive, tries to get shots of Indian Cricket Team for some soda shoot where knowingly, jokingly mentions about her birth. She claims that it was because of her auspicious birth date, the Indian team won then. She was persuaded to stay and back and the team won next match. Enters “boost-brown’ eyed Nikhil Khoda, a believer of hardwork and not in luck. The rest of the story follows how the hate relationship between Zoya and Nikhil turns into a happy ending.

This is a perfect Indian chick lit except for its more than 350 pages long story which made me a bit annoyed. The language is simple, with ample usage of Hindi words that instantly connects with you. I came across a lot Delhi things that was quite new for me. The author has portrayed the exact instincts of an Indian. Cricket and it’s emotions. You will understand the reason why I mentioned cricket numerous times at the start.

A good light one time read.

THE MOTHER I NEVER KNEW

Book Name: The Mother I Never Knew

Author Name: Sudha Murty

Publisher: Penguin India

My Opinion:

Two men on a quest to find the mother they never really knew!

The story seemed like another of Sudha Murty’s normal story but after a few pages, it isn’t about that. There are two stories- one about a rich Suresh from Bangalore who is posted to Hubli where he finds his look alike. He understands the silence and monosyllables of his step-mother. The other story is about Mukesh who travels from London to Bangalore then Amritsar and finally Delhi to face the truth that his biological mother had abandoned him and his adopted mother had raised him like her own son. The book talks about the situation faced by these two people.

The language is simple and it hits you hard. It is basically about how a mother, sometimes, hides their harsh reality to protect their children. When the children discovers it, they see their mother in different perspective, trying to guage their silence and pain.

I feel this is the best books I have read by the author. Coincidentally, I had gifted this book to my mother on Mother’s Day and she loved it.

HOUSE OF CARDS

Book Name: House of Cards

Author Name: Sudha Murty

Publisher: Penguin India

My Opinion:

To all Mridulas who suffer silently.

As the title suggests, this book is about how delicate relationships are; just one blow and the house of cards collapses. It also throws light on importance of women in a family where she sacrifices a lot. The protagonist Mridula, a young girl from a village in North Karnataka, never thinks twice before helping others. She meets Sanjay who has a physical deformity yet she never questions him about it until he tells it. Later, they get married and shift to Bangalore. Even though they face harships initially, they survive with each other’s love and support but things get worse when Sanjay leaves his job as a doctor in the government hospital and decides to set up his private clinic. Sanjay tastes immense success and unknown to Mridula, he had already traded his soul.

The story also has other family characters- Sanjay’s widow mother who is shrewd moneylender, Sanjay’s sister and brother-in-law who live a life of false grandeur which later leads to debts, Mridula’s parents living a peaceful life in their village and Shishir, Mridula and Sanjay’s son, who leads a lavish life until he meets Neha and faces the reality of world.

Mridula is tired of the selfish world and last nail on the coffin is when she comes to know that Sanjay hadn’t told the complete truth of many things. Unable to bear the suffocation of her marital life, she takes a step.

This book has good narrative and language is very simple. Though there are many sub plots, it doesn’t deviate to show different Mridulas tied in misery of marital ties.

DOLLAR BAHU

Book Name: Dollar Bahu

Author Name: Sudha Murty

Publisher: Penguin India

My Opinion:

This book starts with Chandru’s POV who is very ambitious man and falls in love with fair-skinned Vinuta. However he gets a job opportunity in the USA, he works there, provides his family the kind of comfort he was wishing for. Once he was settled in his life, he decides to tell her but she was already married to Girish, coincidentally his brother. It clearly depicts money cannot buy happiness.

Next POV is of Vinuta, an orphan who never knew what happiness was. Though she was happy with her marriage to Girish, she would constantly face criticism from her mother-in-law Gouramma and disapproval from her sister-in-law Surabhi. She was her father-in-law Shyamanna’s favourite and he supported her to live independent, later when she suffered from depression.
The last POV is of Gouramma, who visits the States because Chandru’s wife, dusky-skinned Jamuna was pregnant. She prefers Jamuna more because she is the Dollar Bahu. But when she discovers the truth about other Indians living there and her dearest Dollar Bahu, she realises how she had wronged Vinuta.

This story explores many themes and it also shows the reality of Indians living in the States and their struggles. This is a good short read book that is written straight from heart.

SON OF ROSEMARY

Book Name: Son of Rosemary

Author Name: Ira Levin

Publisher: Random House

My Opinion:

Spoilers ahead.

While Rosemary wakes from her twenty six years sleep, her son by Devil, Andy is leading some international peace charity organization. Soon she and her son become celebrities.
The novel begins in November 1999 with Rosemary Woodhouse waking up in a long-term care facility, where she has lain in a coma since 1973. She learns that her coma was the result of a spell cast by the coven when they discovered that she had planned to run away with her son, Andy. Andy was raised by the same old eccentric couple- Minnie and Roman Castevet, the leaders of the coven. Rosemary recovered only after the last member of the coven died.

The story continues on how Andy, her thirty three year old son, charismatic leader of an international peace organization has given up to the evil ways of coven but Rosemary suspects otherwise and how her worst fears come true.

The story and especially the ending was not of the bar set by the author’s previous book, Rosemary’s son. Overall, it is neither a worthy successor nor a good book to read.

ROSEMARY’S BABY

Book Name: Rosemary’s Baby

Author Name: Ira Levin

Publisher: Random House

My Opinion:

Spoilers ahead.

My first experience in reading a horror novel and I can easily say it was a very scary. The story is basically about Rosemary Woodhouse, a young woman who has just moved into the Bramford, an old Gothic Revival style New York City apartment building with her husband, Guy, a struggling actor. The couple are warned about the apartment like the disturbing history involving witchcraft and murder, but they choose to not heed to what others were saying. The routine thing comes into picture- Rosemary wants to have children, but Guy wants to wait until he is more established.
This couple are quickly welcomed by neighbours, Minnie and Roman Castevet. They are very spooky one, though. Rosemary finds them meddlesome and absurd. Her husband, Guy begins paying them frequent visits.

Things change when Guy is given an important part in a stage play. Immediately, Guy unexpectedly agrees with Rosemary that it is time to conceive their first child. Guy’s performance in the stage play gets him important roles and there is a talk about his career in Hollywood. Soon Rosemary discovers that her neighbours are the leaders of a Satanic coven, and she suspects they intend to steal her child for sacrificing to the Devil. No one believes her, including Guy. Finally, Rosemary finds that she is wrong. The baby that she delivers is the Antichrist, and Guy is not actually the father, Satan is.

If you’re into horror thrillers, this is a must read book.