Book Review- Shades of Sin:Behind the mask

Book:  Shades of Sin: Behind the mask

Authors:  Vivek Banerjee, Upneet Grover, Saksham Agarwal, Aanandita Chawla, Vrinda Baliga & Sreelatha Chakravarty

ISBN:  978-93-81791-19-6

Genre:  Fiction/Short Stories

Price:  195 ( I received it directly from Publisher)

Pages:  188

Publisher:  APK Publishers

Introduction: 
At times, what’s perceived by the world isn’t the truth and when intrigued with reality it reveals the hidden personality which in most scenarios expose the dark side of humans, most appropriately be called –‘Shades of Sin’
As we ruminate into human behavior it would divulge us towards various negative facets which if unmasked exhibit a dingy tale of a person’s existence or absence. ‘Shades of Sin’ is a compendium of short stories which would bring forth the dark side of life. Stories which would surely necessitate, what lies beyond the shades?

Cover page & Title:

Look says it all; Glimpse of the cover page is enough for the readers to be curious. Readers would be compelled to have a peek into it, as the cover page is as mysterious as the title which reads-“Shades of Sin: Behind the Mask”
Barren dead tree and the man in shades serves a prologue for the content which is as explicable as it can be, thus enforcing the reader to move ahead with the book at the first sight.

About the Authors:

Dr. Vivek Banerjee is a pediatrician by choice and a writer by chance. He has been published by Westland in Chicken Soup for the Indian Doctor’s Soul and Grapevine India in Shades of Love. His Debut novel, The long road, which was well received by the readers, was published by Cedar, an imprint of Pustak Mahal in December 2010.

Upneet Grover is your run of the mill engineer cum MBA, with a penchant for writing. Stuck in a 9 to 9 consulting Job, He somehow manages to eke out a couple of hours every day to read and write. His debut Novel, The Dream, has recently hit the market.

Saksham Agarwal is a professional consultant and an amateur writer. His writing has been shaped by his seven years of campus life, his devotion to reading and his humanistic worldview. He writes short stories and is working on a novel.
Aanandita Chawla is a journalist and aspiring filmmaker. In her spare time she reads, writes and plans to find a wonderful way to convert everything she writes directly into moving pictures.

Vrinda Baliga lives in Hyderabad and enjoys writing short fiction. Her short stories have appeared in anthologies like City of Gods, Two is company, Urban Shots, and Crossroads, as well as in various print and online literary print and online literary journals. She is a prizewinner in the Unison- Reliance Timeout short story competition 2011 and katha Fiction contests 2010 and 2012.

Sreelatha Chakravarthy is a poet-writer-doctor and has been published with Frog books, an imprint of Leadstart Publishers, Mumbai. Her debut novel is titled An eternal Romantic. Sreelatha lives in Kochi, Kerala, presently, with her husband and two kids. Creative writing is her new found passion and she has only just begun.

Compositional Report:
Shades of sin is a typical anthology of short stories bent on revealing the dark side of human which has been classified as Light Grey, Dark Grey and Black. In all there are 25 stories and all the 25 stories have been classified amongst the three heads I mentioned above.

Etymologically shades can be of any color but the implication of the stories and it’s connection with the hidden side of human has been specifically embarked with dark shades like Grey and Black and certainly not coincidentally the stories bifurcated in various heads have been degrading on moral ethics as we move ahead with stories under light grey to Black.

Almost all human immoral conducts have been covered. Each and every story stands tall amongst the others in focusing the evil which has emerged from the world around. One of the classical features of this anthology is, it maintains the decorum of interest all the way through with stories bent on peculiar vices. ‘Shades of sin’ is an interconnection of various perverse features with the theme that’s concentric to shades behind the mask.

Best part according to me is the bifurcation of the stories on various levels. It’s next to impossible to choose a best story or the worst story as each and every story is unique and focuses on  different aspect of human vices like Hatred, Anger, Jealousy, Lust, greed, Pride & Ego among the other frailties.

There wasn’t any weak links as such, though it was a collection from various writers from different background and dissimilar writing styles but each and every story seemed to cover all its bases as far as the main theme is concerned. It’s a book that’s compelling and the stories though fictional can be assumed to be true and can be connected to the real world. Stories were like stimulating vibes, that’s the charm a reader would get and would spur them to finish in one go. Over all, a good read to know and learn about the various shades a person possess along with its consequences.



Rating:

I would rate ‘Shades of Sin: Behind the mask’ 4 out of 5

 

Life Adjudication of the book:

This book is best read to divulge deep into the character a person possess in a life that never recedes.

Book Review: because every raindrop is a HOPE

Book:  because every raindrop is a HOPE

Author:  Mansi Sharma and Shankalp Kohli

ISBN:  9789380914435

Genre:  Fiction/Romance

Price:  125 ( I received it directly from Writer)

Pages:  182

Publisher:  GENERAL PRESS


Introduction:

One should never let one’s ego to vouch the center stage in Friendship and should always let trust to overhaul all misunderstanding in close friends. When am speaking about ‘because every raindrop is a HOPE’ Trust and Ego would be the two words which would lead up to mearstones.  Mesmerizing plot that will compel you to believe – ‘There’s always time to forget your past and start a new beginning.’  With a power pact moral –‘People say we die when we stop breathing but the truth is we die when we stop Hoping’.  This book is a must for all bachelors who more often than not are carried over by infatuations thinking its love thus ruining their life. A book which will motivate you to have a clear sight of Friendship, Love, Jealousy, Lust, Ego and most importantly Hope, when you are all set to give up. ‘because every raindrop is a HOPE’ is wound around college life but am sure it will give enough leads not only about life at college but Life above all…!!!

Cover page & Title:

With a rather somber looking cover- A man facing backward looking over the woodlands in a mist, readers might think this to be a serious read. Title also gives an indication of something even brainstorming but mind your thoughts as this is as entertaining and fast paced as you can get. This book falls in one of those rare categories where I can profoundly say-‘Never Judge a book by its cover.’

About the Authors:
Mansi Sharma Having a zeal to sail the vessel, till the river runs dry in the chase of her dreams; Mansi is a person who takes the challenges and surprises that life and destiny throws at her, with courage.       
Nesting big dreams from her childhood in the Beautiful City of Chandigarh, post her Graduation in Physics (Hons.) from PU, she moved to Pune for her Masters. An MBA Graduate from SCIT, Pune, Mansi is presently working in one of the top Indian Telcos.       
With a slice of painter, dash of an avid reader, a writer and an unexplored poet, she is an emotional and sensitive person.              
Sankalp Kohli Born and brought up in Kanpur, Sankalp is an MBA Graduate from NMIMS, Mumbai. 
An entrepreneurial soul with an imprint of a perfectionist, he is a workaholic, who believes in turning every single moment of life into something constructive and fruitful. Being an avid reader since the beginning, he eventually began giving his thoughts and ideas, the wings of words in the form of blogs.        
He is a person who holds his parents above all, especially his mother. All his dreams and aspirations are driven by his wish to make his parents feel proud

Compositional Report:
As I said earlier this book will thrust you off-guard by the time you finish the first few pages as you would realize you are about to read about bachelor life, a life in college…And college life can never be dull no matter what kind of person you are…!!!

The story revolves around a teenager Raj Malhotra as the main lead who sets off along with two of his childhood friends Rahul Bhatia and Rohan Awasthi from a small town Kanpur to a fast paced Metropolitan-A city which never sleeps- Mumbai for his higher studies at Mumbai College of Engineering and management studies (MCEMS) for a five year integrated course. Story is divided into 15 chapters and an epilogue but I would categorize it into three Parts.
First part of the story deals with Raj settling in one of the Hostels of MCEMS near the Juhu beach with a windup of his 1^st love Shruti and how he lost her. The story moves forward with the echelons of Ragging night, First day at college, falling in love with a rather simple looking girl Mahek, Cricketing heroics, Exams, Jealousy about a friend reaching a milestone, Ego clashing and all the cliches of about the college life… but the real difference would the way each of this topics is handled… freshness of plots woven around an interesting subplots guiding the story forward. One would feel as if there’s someone whom you know sharing the same traits as its portrayed…whether it’s about the true love Of Mahek, Ragging Blurs, relief of achievement or jealousy of a friend taking over…This part is as entertaining as it could be.

Second Part…or I should say the turning point of the story where Shruti met raj coincidentally. Raj felt as if his lost love is back and in the process ditched Mahek but very little did he knew that Shruti didn’t come to stay and she got rid of him the same way she left him on the first occasion. Unable to bear the brunt and the feeling of ‘None can ditch him’ Raj implied the same for Mahek and Mahek struggled to keep herself up to it and struggled to move on. Meanwhile in a quest of love or I should say lust raj ended with one night stand with a German Cera in his trip to Goa with Rohan, Rahul and Rahul’s girlfriend Preeti . In strive to forget his past (Shruti and Mahek) Raj took to drugs which he himself condemned all his life but that was just a day’ affair and he needed something that could bury his past. He eventually hooked up with Debonita, a foreign exchange student and Rohan’s girlfriend…more for jealousy of being single amongst the three friends and for the growing concupiscence for the NRI Debonita. Debonita held the weakness of Raj perfectly and tuned his ego to hate his friends and thus forced Raj to grow his distances from his childhood friends. She even forced raj to commit a theft in the Funds of college that was meant for the college fest and finally sided her way out of Raj’s life.



The Third and the Best part according to me was the final part where Raj seemed hopeless…everything was lost for him…No friends, No one to share a moment with though he was the General Secretary of the college he had no one by his side. He had already lost Mahek whose love was genuine. Once A topper and a person who had grabbed the best package flunked and his low attendance did come up to his savior. His Impression also demeaned in front of Professor Tripathi whom raj looked up as a fatherly figure as Prof. Tripathi found about his theft though he saved raj from landing in jail…but till then everything was over for him…and it was only of the trio
 1) Rohan’s word before he met Prof. Tripathi. (A friend’s Concern)
2) Prof Tripathi’s realization words for Raj (Realization of what he was and what he is now)
3) Old Villager’s Retrospective speech of hoping and striving against all hope (To get over his past and start with a new hope)




The retrospective realization and hope was very carefully intertwined with the rain drop falling and its importance to  hope of a new beginning with Prof. Tripathi’s Word- “Life Doesn’t End when Every Rain drop is hope”

As for the loose straps it was hard finding out but I believe the start was a bit- beat around the bush as it was concentrated on the college happenings  rather than the main theme. But above all it was a fantastic read both from entertaining and motivating point of view and one can’t get any better plot as this one which was focused on a bachelor life…a life where we often chose the wrong compartment for our destination as such this book is right up there for motivating people to realize the worth of many ethics I described above which if forgotten would lead to a life…better not lived. ‘because every raindrop is a HOPE’ is a book which will surely out number your expectations.

Rating:

I would rate ‘because every raindrop is a HOPE’ 4 out of 5
Life Adjudication of the book:

A Book to read when you are not at your best and striving to get back at life as this will not only entertain you but will motivate you to give your best.

Book Review: The November Note

Book:  The November Note

Author:  Sanchit Goel and Prateek Verma

ISBN:  978-81-926780-0-9

Genre:  Fiction

Price:  100 ( I got it from Author himself)

Pages:  176

Publisher:  PepperScript

Introduction: A real friend is someone with whom you can confide yourself without worrying about the consequences of your indifferent past or your probable future.  A friend with whom you Share, Fare and Care about life and most importantly learn to live life with all the happiness and unhappiness around. ‘The November  Note’ is a journey of two unknown people  who met anonymously, led friendly and shed tears affectionately until they become inspiration for each other’s life. A grueling fictional story depicting hostel life, life in general and special of two about to be engineers which am sure will touch every reader’s  heart more so for all those who come from engineering background like me.
So here I go with ‘The November Note’ relieving some of my old memories as I felt I could see those incidences right from my hostel window, like waiting for something miraculous to happen…this November…!!!

Cover Page: Sometimes the look of it gives you the impression that yes…this would be something you would be interested to vouch about. Cover page itself will instigate you to go through the book in one go. Two friends sensing the aroma of leftover leaves sprawl over their arms while looking over the city, with one sitting on the bench and the other holding a guitar makes you believe … they do have a story to tell and the car on the back page encompasses the journey they are going to cover together.

About the Authors:  Sanchit Goel and Prateek Verma are authors turned entrepreneurs who co-founded a Delhi based publishing unit PepperScript.
Considering the positive response and love received by their debut novel, they decided to republish it in a whole new avatar as ‘The November Note’. It’s the most awaited revised edition of 'The Bachelors Theorem'

Compositional Report: ‘The November Note’ is a story of two acquaintances Midhansh Bharadwaj and Sidhesh Aggarwal who through the companionship of each other changed the direction of their life…to be exact their love life.  This book is divided into 6 parts or I shall say 6 episodes each having an importance is if a different story to reveal.

Midhansh narrates the 1^st part briskly on how he came up to his college and met various people and finally settled in to form a mushrooming group of punters with all punctuations including hostel life, Ragging blues, Exam fear, Partying and not to forget sorting out ways to get a girl go along with you.

2^nd part was about the growing friendship of Midhansh and Sidhesh as it was the moment when Sidhesh revealed about his life, the first time when he met Jiya, His instant falling in love with her, proposing her, Celebrating a grand Birthday, talking overnights, 12^th exam Blurs, their quarrel… in short Sidhesh lived his life the way he wanted but still wasn’t happy because of the uncertainty of his relationship with Jiya in future.

3^rd part again swayed back to the hostel which included their growing friendship with other hostel
mates, their whooping, freaking Wassail, horrendous results and their passing up with girls around in college…which shows the true colors of jealousy, rage, misunderstanding and fooling around.

4^th part continued from where 3^rd part ended and revealed the characteristics like revenge, Astuteness and mischievousness. While this part was also the turning part of the story as it also exposed true friendship and the way Midhansh reacted after their loss in the sports events was the highlight of this part.

5th part was all about finding the hidden trails and it divulged the truth about Midhansh which no one knew including Midhansh’s parents and this to me was the best part of this story when you get to know about the hidden secrets and you tend to look at your friend with ingenuity as if a soul sent to you by god to wipe up all your troubles in spite of having a world complexities in his own personal life. 

6^th part deals with the impishness of a true friend and truly speaking any person who would have been there in place of Sidhesh would have done exactly the same…to try your best for a glimmer of hope for the person who led his life for you…for your happiness.

As for the negativeness…the third part which swayed from the personal life of Sidhesh didn’t go well with the flow of the main theme. The end of the 3^rd part was equally lose as it was written as if it was a conversation about two people Midhansh and Sidhesh whereas up-til now it was Sidhesh who was narrating the story…the ending too didn’t seem to have a conclusive ending as the epilogue promised with a suspense starting. It was an abrupt ending nothing was mentioned about Midhansh and his current situation and the focus shifted towards the other part of hostel life with Grand Pa’s (Anubhav Goel) Story.


Overall a story where every engineer can identify themselves as if it’s something they have faced or have seen their friends going through. A story I believe everybody would like as stories about college and hostel are worth reading and going for in your leisure time…'The November Note' is a story about True Friendship, Love, hatred and the rest is up to you to find yourself.
Rating: I would give it 3 out of 5

Life Adjudication of the book:

This book is best read to live in those sweet-sour moments of your life which you yearn to live again and again…!!!