Close To The Bone

Close To The Bone

Author : Lisa Ray
Publisher : Harper Collins India
Pages : 386
Price : 599/- INR
Format : PaperBack
Genre : Non - Fiction/ Memoir
Buy : Amazon/Flipkart
Rating : 5/5 Star

Blurb :
'How fortunate it is when life alters you without warning.' One of India's first supermodels. Actor. Cancer survivor. Mother of twins through surrogacy. Woman of no fixed address. This is the story of Lisa Ray. An unflinching, deeply moving account of her nomadic existence: her entry into the Indian entertainment industry at sixteen; her relationship with her Bengali father and Polish mother; life on the movie sets and her brush with the Oscars; her battle with eating disorders; being diagnosed with multiple myeloma at thirty-seven; her spiritual quest; lovers and traitors, mentors and dream-makers; and the heartaches and triumphs along the way. It is also about Lisa's quest for love. Funny, charming, and gut-wrenchingly honest all at once, Close to the Bone is Lisa Ray's brave and inspiring story of a life lived on her terms.

Review :
I do not give five star review very often, because in my mind a 5star book has to be not only entertaining funny and heart wrenching, but it also has to have a powerful message and for lack of better term be life changing. Close to the bone is beautiful memoir with a wonderful message and deserve to be widely read. There are some moments throughout in the book that provide great perspective. I was encouraged by her strength and courage. I found this book both fascinating and Ultimately uplifting. The language of the book is simple. The title and cover of the book is apt to the content and compel you to pick it up.Well written and honest, this is the book that can find a place on any shelf. Highly recommend.

Alumni Of The Year

Alumni Of The Year

Author : Tomson Robert
Publisher : Notion Press
Pages : 156
Price :180/- INR
Format : Paperback
Buy : Amazon/ Flipkart
Rating : 3.5/ 5 Stars

Blurb :
Dave is ambitious, has a demanding boss, and is struggling to balance work and life, especially the relationship with his five-year-old daughter. Dave cherishes the memories of his school days. However, due to an incident from the past, he hardly keeps in touch with his best friends.

When Dave learns that his arch-rival from school is nominated for the prestigious Alumni of the Year Competition, he buys his way into the nomination by donating to the school library.

Travel on a life-changing journey with Dave—from Dubai, to Goa, to Kochi—as he goes for the School Reunion function. See how he confronts his past, his ambitions, his fears, and discovers about what truly matters in life.
Review :
A well written , well plotted and extremely well told book. Alumni Of The Year is gripping read. The characters and their response and action are believable and engaging. Nice character development. With the author engendering the right level of trust in each character as the story progress. The story revolve around Dave who is ambitious and sandwiched between angry boss and family. I loved how this book explored really serious topic of today's world such as family and friends and their values , existence of God. The book and it's title offer delicious hints of this book topic. The book is an eye opening read for those who are over ambitious and do not give sufficient time to family. Book is fast read and language of the book is simple. Overall a good read.

Demythsifying Myths

Demythsifying Myths
Demythsifying 18 Myths About India

Author : Amit Bagaria
Publisher : Notion Press
Pages : 203
Price : 399/-
Format : Paperback
Buy : Amazon India
Rating : 5/5 Stars

Blurb : The four and a half hours read changed my views about many things spoon-fed into our mind from childhood days. The book, as the name suggests, demythsified many myths with concise but great insights about many leaders and important events in history about which we were taught half-truths to make someone look better. Not only it answers many inconvenient questions but will also make you ponder about many things like the problem with India's electoral system and the mysterious deaths in Indian political history. A must-read book to know about the real Indian politics, History books are full of lies. I being so much involved in reading about politics didn't know many things. The book is very well researched and all the important topics are covered. Great insights. Really loved it!

Ankur Singh

Digital Media Consultant, Columnist, Political Commentator

This masterclass from Amit Bagaria provides a refreshing and new perspective on the most important and game changing events in India's past. It makes you stop, think about and question everything you've learned through the years. This book gives one insight into an alternate reality than the one we've been fed through our school history books, the media and politicians - from little known facts about Gandhi to the astonishing ineffectiveness of our parliamentary governance and electoral systems. It's definitely an eye opener and a must read for anyone that wishes to have a holistic picture of our nation and its real history.

Ritansha Patni

M.Sc., Warwick Business School, UK, Sr. Business Analyst, TARGET

Head of Strategic Alliances & Partnerships (MEA), HEADOUT

The absolute truth! In the case of most Indians, a lot of unquestionable information has been drilled into us and we have been forbidden to question the same. If ever, there was an alternate thought, it was hushed up saying ..".but that is not what History says." However, this book has brought all those thoughts and questions to the surface. It makes me wonder if we are really the people who need to be told the contradictory point, even though our minds nudge us to believe otherwise. This book has dealt with various issues and has smacked the Indian political world on its bottom. It helps lift the veil of questions that have been unanswered for so long. The author has done in-depth research on separating fact from fiction and that is commendable in the India of today. It is a very well written book and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is willing to take a breath of fresh air in this tamasha-heavy Indian policical circus.

Archana Samtani

Head of Business Development, SOCH

Review :
It maybe not a stretch to say this book blew my mind and in the best possible way. It is well written, wry and incisive a subject I mostly avoid and loathe, something I could grasp. Author Amit Bagaria has done a great job here. He wrote about various sensitive issues like UN seats, Hindu law , chacha nehru, etc.
Is this book written to make a point? You bet! Call it propaganda. I don't care. The book contain 18 chapters. The author back his allegations with facts that too with strong and conclusive evidence. It is painful to read and understand that everything we know about our prominent leader through history book over all year post independence is fabricated. A must read book. Highly recommend !

Narasimha

Narasimha
The Mahaavatar Trilogy

Author : Kevin Missal
Publisher : Harper Collins India
Pages : 350
Price : 250/- INR
Format : Paper Back
Buy : Amazon/Flipkart
Rating : 4/5 Stars

Blurb :
Narasimha, once a brave soldier, has left the war and lies low as a physician in a village. But a familiar face from his past seeks his help to stop the tyranny of the blind usurper Andhaka. If Narasimha refuses, the world might just end. What will he do? And why did he leave the war in the first place? Prahlad, the interim king of Kashyapuri, is torn between the ideals of his unrighteous father and his love for Lord Vishnu. Whom will he choose? Hiranyakashyap, the ruler of the Asura Empire, wants to avenge the death of his wife. To do that, he must go through the Trials and get the ultimate weapon - the Brahmastra. But the Trials have sent so many others to their death. Can Hiranyakashyap survive? Welcome to the reimagining of the fourth Avatar of Lord Vishnu by bestselling author Kevin Missal.
Review :
Narasimha is a mythical fiction book. The legends of the past have been recreated. The way author has portrayed them into the simple human being with intellectual mind is just magical. Every word used by Author Kevin Missal is relevant in delivering the story which flows quickly and yet engages the reader. The story has not deviated at any point of time from the actual mythology.The character of Prahlad , Hrinyakashyap, Prahlada brother Anuhrad and Andhaka is beautifully portrayed. Language is simple and easy to understand. Title and cover of the book compell you to pick it up. Narasimha is a wonderfull book with a great plot and a fair share of twists and turns. It's a must read for anyone interested in Indian mythology. Eagerly waiting for the next part. A must read.

The Break - Up Clinic

The Break-Up Clinic

Author : Dr. Govind Sharma
Publisher : Notion Press
Pages : 104
Price : 145/- INR
Format : Paperback
Buy : Amazon / Flipkart
Rating : 4/5 Stars

Blurb :
Is the break-up killing you? 

The scariest three words for a person in love are: It is over. 

The rejection from a loved one can be the most painful experience in life. 

Ajay, Karan and Nisha seek to end their lives as they are driven to despair by failed love relationships. After the near-fatal suicide attempts, the survivors are in the care of the Freudian Psychoanalyst Doctor Dev who works in a Break-up Clinic to accomplish his mission of providing succor to emotionally wounded persons. 

Will Doctor Dev be able to help Ajay, Karan and Nisha to come out of the emotional quagmire and move on? 

The Break-Up Clinic makes an attempt to answer the question: Why do some people suffer so much in love?

Review :
People who are looking for a light read with easy language can definitely give it a try. The simple language and awesome narration makes this book a great read.
Author Dr.Govind Sharma has done a tremendous job here, writing about such a sensitive topic that too in a story form is simply awesome. Break up clinic is a story of three people Ajay , Karan and Nisha, break up leaves them reeling with pain (The pain from break up is some of the worst pain your heart will ever feel) and Dr.Dev help them overcome their pain with psycho-dynamic and behavioral psychotherapy and move on with their life. I think the book is focusing the millennials more than other generation. The book brings important subject with a fresh and young perception. The cover and the title of the book is apt to the story. Definitely a must read. Highly recommend.