Let Us Review

 Compensate The Past by Mohammad Israf

Published Year- 2017

Publications- Good Times Books Pvt. Ltd.

Genre- Fiction

Pages- 137

Format- Paperback/Kindle

                                                                                   Synopsis

                                                                    My Review

How many of you ever thought to implement whatever you were taught in school or in university/college? I guess most of you will say NO. We keep learning things but fail to implement them because we are taught there is life other than bookish knowledge what if I tell about one such book in which author has utilized his knowledge he learnt in a B-School(Business School).

Compensate The Past is one such book I find really very amusing and entertaining. I really loved the concept developed for this book and it had worked. After reading so many books based on engineering I don’t find reason why they didn’t sooth me but here I got a reason and I enjoyed every bit of it.

Compensate which means in recognitions of loss and here in the story means narrator or say protagonist who suffered loss in past or things which has never worked that time he mended in the present.

Story starts with a train journey where Rajat Rai narrated his incidents of life but they won’t make you monotonous but will make you stick to the edge where you’re sitting. Rajat explains how he hard life is and how and what we should do for things w didn’t get in past. Whatever your past is; you have ability to make it a new version or more upgraded. Book dwells into a management boy life and how he makes the best use of available resources. Author has added pinch of laughter and romance which is very neatly fit into the book.

I really enjoyed reading Rajat’s section, he was hard working and ambitious and he knows where to put full stop to those diversions which hinders his path. I personally enjoyed reading CSR and women self help group part mentioned in the books I’m so keen to experience them in my classes.  

Book is fast paced and will be completed in a single sitting but will leave readers wondering how they must use their capabilities to achieve their dreams and ambitions. Book title and cover is very apt, it goes with story line. Language is simple and readable, won’t make readers hunch over dictionary.

For management student like me would really enjoy this book but I won’t be specific because anyone can read this. A good Sunday read.

I would rate 4/5 and I’m looking forward to read more from the author. And I would like to thanks author for choosing me giveaway winner.

Reviewed by Aditi Srivastava

Book Review : Wasted in Engineering Story of India’s Youth by Prabhu Swaminathan

Published Year- 2014

Publication-  Notionpress             

Genre- Non-fiction

Pages- 172

Format- Paperback/Kindle        

 

                                                                Synopsis      

            

'Engineering padicha nalla future - If you study engineering, you will have a good future.' This is a claim often repeated to children and teenagers by parents and teachers in many parts of India. But only those who have gone through an engineering college life know that it's not completely true. 

There is a difference between calling yourself as an engineering graduate and an engineer. India produces millions of engineering graduates like you and me but only very few of us are actual engineers. Many of us just graduate with an engineering degree, with an artistic dream in mind. 

What do you think is the difference between engineers in many countries around the world and engineers from India? In other countries, if David Pascal studied electrical engineering in college, few years later you can find him working as an electrical engineer. In India, if Ram Krishnamurthy studied electrical engineering, few years later you can find him working in a completely irrelevant field like software coding, banking, photography and even movie directing. 

This book is not about the few engineering students in your class who love engineering. I don't hate them. In fact, I am very jealous that they study what they love. This book is about the majority of engineering graduates whose lives are wasted in engineering and is intended to tell you why you should make an attempt in pursuing your real passion, instead of being suffocated under the weight of an engineering degree. 

This is a story of India's Youth. 

Welcome to India, the land of Wasted Engineers.

                                                                   My Review

Did you see I just mentioned this book is also available in Kindle format but let me tell you even if you have it in your Kindle app you will not stop yourself buying a paperback version. Since the day I received this book and I started reading I couldn’t stop myself spreading a word about it. Wasted in Engineering is based on engineering myths we all have but book will be beneficially to a non- engineer also.

Wasted in Engineering by Prabhu Swaminathan is a true account of author himself, he explained 360◦ view of  engineering starting from when a child is born to where an engineer end up after his studies. This book actually reminds me a poem which was in my school circular, over the years that poem remains my favorite,  The Road Not Taken by  Robert Frost. Just like it was mentioned in the poem that we can’t walk to two paths similarly the book justifies how we cannot choose between two career paths, one which we like other which our parents ask. 

Book begins how school play major roles in choosing students for science and commerce stream, how parents give us only one option to opt and how discrimination happens in an engineering college right from the time of admission to the end of the semester. He explained briefly about special quotas offered along with reservation, he too focused on how we should separate what we see in movie about an engineering college to the real one.

He also explains myths which is very common and very reason to do engineering in India is six digits salary and author breaks that myths too. Next he talks about a real campus life, the professors, marking scheme based on how student behaves to them.

In the poem, at the end poets lament for not choosing the most travelled road but in book author gave us positive hopes and various illustrations how we can too choose the path which we like even after completing engineering degree. Book is a guide to school going students who still thinks key to luxury life is doing engineering , to parents who thinks what their neighbor say if they came to know that their son/daughter are non engineer, teachers who evaluate students on the basis of marks and neglect the scientific aptitude of any student, still who are doing engineering you guys still start working on your real dream rather than running into a rat race  and above all those every youth who is an engineer or not give yourself some time and thin what you always wanted to do. I’ve figured out what I wants to do. What about you? 

Coming back to book title which just amazing and catchy, book cover is very well designed. Narration of the book was literally amazing step by step everything was explained. Language was smooth and easy to comprehend. 

Wait? Are you still asking me to recommend you personally. Damn! Just go and grab it.

I am so thrilled to rate it 4.5/5 stars. I’m still in it’s hangover. Yes, I’ m a non engineer and I know what I want to do. Thank you Prabhu Sir.

Reviewed by Aditi Srivastava

Book Review- Demons In My Mind by Aashish Gupta

Published Year- 2017

Publication- Notionpress

Genre-Fiction

Pages- 317

Format- Paperback/Kindle

                                                              Synopsis

Is your mind under your control?Dakshesh, an old man in Sirubari village suffering from cancer, wishes to be released from excruciating pain. His journey takes him to the three monks, known for miraculous healing and life transformation. He discovers they are no saints, but hardened criminals. The three monks - Rizwan, Murli, Joseph - narrate stories of unprecedented savagery that would make even the most cold-hearted criminals look down with shame. 

The dark stories of the three monks leave Dakshesh gasping, but there is something about their dishonourable lives that relieves Dakshesh from his pain.

                                                            My Review

Demons In My Mind is less a fiction but more a crime psychological book which will play with your mind. When you read the blurb and compared it with that of the book you will be flabbergasted to draw the line between two. Blurb which states man who is on verge of dying and has his last wish to meet the three monks who lives in the laps of mountains. But that not happened after initial chapters. Book takes turns into dark, malign to your mind and chugging in your throat I regret reading in mid night, it disturbed me whole night(positive punch as a part of author works).

Book begins where a man who was on last stage of cancer and had very few weeks left with him, he decided to devote his last days meeting and learning about life from three monks but soon everything turned out to be very dark. I earlier thought it would be some spiritual but no it is not.  A simple story splits into three stories of monks. Each story was different from the other and with each story you would feel something quandary inside your own mind. You would be forced to think is there any demon lying or sleeping inside you. Three great monks but who knows they were once the most heinous and sabotage for society once. A generous boy who loved his parents beyond any limits end up killing them, an artist who became a rapist and a lover who turn into a torturer and all three were victims of their own mind.

It took me two days to finish the book and later I found myself in the state of quivering and I couldn’t help but all day night I was drone into the story only.

Book narration was good and unexpected because not for a second you will be able to make a guess. Book is indeed page tuner. Writing style was good, author used both prose and poetry which makes the book attractive. Title was catchy and matches the story line whereas book cover too justify it only the blurb wasn’t clear.

Overall the book was a good read. I would rate it 3.5/5 stars.

Reviewed by Aditi Srivastava

It Ain't College, It's War! (Book 1 of 'It Ain't' Trilogy) by  Subhodeep Mukherjee

Publication Year- 2017

Publication- Notion Press

Genre- Fiction

Pages- 386

Format- Paperback/Kindle

                                                               Blurb              

What happens when an engineering college fresher: 

• confronts his violent seniors on the first day of ragging? 

• tries to woo a beautiful senior who has a nasty boyfriend? 

• is heart-broken when his past causes his break-up with the girl he loves? 

• goes boozing for the first time? 

• is involved in a bloody inter-hostel rivalry with dire consequences? 

In his debut novel, It Ain't College, It's War! (Book 1 of the It Ain't trilogy), Subhodeep Mukherjee tells the story of Rahul Arora, an outspoken Delhi boy with a devil-may-care attitude that always gets him in trouble. 

Amidst the politically charged atmosphere of his college and his many adventures, Rahul seeks true love, friendship and a job. Will he manage to find balance in his life? Will he make peace with his teachers, classmates, seniors and father and find what he is looking for or will his attitude get the better of him? 

Loosely based on true events and also touching on various social issues, this book explores the meaning of love, friendship and career as seen through the eyes of the narrator and protagonist, Rahul Arora.

                                                               My Review

Listening to engineering college spicy stories is one of my favorite topics maybe because I am very keen to know what actually happens. Does what’s shown in the movies are true? Or really the colleges are haunted? And how can we skip the main tagline attached- ragging. One of my friends mentioned me about this very book and I couldn’t say no to it. I’m really thankful to author for sending me a copy of this book.

It’s Ain’t a College, It’s a war is a story of a boy named Rahul Arora who gets through into a government medical college in New Delhi. Rahul who has set of doldrums roommates and later face encounter with the college hostel head and faced the worst in his first ragging tasks.  Book is actually a story which reflects a pure engineering college story which includes ragging, love, rejection, hating the plot against rival hostlers and much more. Rahul who’s the protagonist has tried to entertains his readers in many way, succeed in few and got monotonous at times.

 Rahul who was one sour eye for everyone in the college but later turn to be favorite of many. I’m many youngsters can relate to Rahul. I like his character building. I really like hostel names which were kept after great scientists and then I really enjoyed part struggled faced by fresher’s to their fresher party where they were treated  nicely. 

Friendship, love, betrayal, college life and war within students all these elements will be found in this book. Characters will entertain you but somewhere they will disappoint you. Plot was interesting but gets boring in some places.  Another drawback of the book was editing flaws. Whereas book title and cover did a great job and goes very well with the story-line.

Overall book is one time read, you can read  it in free time.

I would rate the first installment of the book 3/5 stars, expecting to read the sequel who would be really amazing.

Reviewed by Aditi Srivastava

Les Just Not Be Only Friendz(1) by Vikash Sharma

Publication Year- 2017

Publication- Creative Keeda Publications

Genre- Fiction

Pages- 275

Format- Paperback/Kindle

                                                                     Blurb              

Les jus not be only friendz (1) is based on relationships and various phases of a graduate student’s life. The novel is set in Noida (NCR) in the time-period of 2009 - 2011. 
The novel tells the story of a young, average performer and simple middle-class guy, who in desperate bid to not join his father's profession of selling mechanical spare parts in a small town, comes to Delhi after graduation to study in a Film school, hoping to make it big and become successful in a short time span. 

Aakash opts to stay with his old school friend Dhiru and his trouble making friends, who were perusing engineering from Noida. Before he could sink with the feel of Delhi NCR, he falls for a girl named Neha and finds him swept away by love and varied emotions. Dhiru does not like the progress in Aakash and Neha's blooming relationship and consistently tries to act as second fiddle.
In order to save his friendship with Dhiru and in seeking Neha’s love, Aakash goes through various troublesome phases, which test him over time and eventually changes him from a shy and simple person to a completely different kind. 

Towards the end, in order to prove his true love to Neha, Aakash accidentally ends up doing something that he had never dreamed of. The incident terribly jeopardizes their relationship. Will they ever get back to each other?

No, It’s not entirely a romantic story of panic stricken Aakash and confusedly demanding Neha,
But,

Yes. It’s an amalgamation of intricate relationships, set in modern times, focusing towards the trials and tribulations of average, but true lovers. It’s an endearing tale of veritable friendship and love in its ever changing colors.

                                                            My Review

Les Just Not Be Only Friendz is a story of a boy named Akash, who's depressed with his graduation results decided to opt Mass Communication in Noida city just in hope that he would not screw his parents money and his own life. He moved to his old school friend place and from there the real story beings. Delhi lifestyles, people and how everyone among his friend circle is carefree and cool with their current state whereas he got to double check himself again and again just to make sure he won't run into troubles this time. Everything was perfect in his life and then Neha walked into light. He fall for her in the first place and secretly planned a future with her. Will things work out? For that you got to the first installment and waits for second.


Book title and cover matches with the plot but somewhere story didn't make up to the level. Book could have been completed within 100 pages or more but it stretched to 276 which makes it monotonous. Narration of the book was even slow and curiosity pushed me to read further to find out where Akash love story would lead. Apart from that few errors like grammatical and editing mistakes could have be rectified. Another part which I dislike was the Hindi conversation used in the books and slags language hidden between 'beep'. 


Author has tried to entertain the readers while opening up his life to everyone and makes me laugh while reading. Pinch of romance added was okay while I don't get along with some characters. 


Overall the book is one time read. 


I would rate 2.5/5 stars. I hope to see improvements in the next installments.

Reviewed by Aditi Srivastava

UNNS The Captivation by Sapan Saxena

Published Year-  2017

Publication- Inspire India Publishers

Genre- Fiction/ Romance Thriller

Pages- 244

Format- Paperback/Kindle

                                                             Blurb

"Of course you know about the seven stages of love, but have you ever lived them?"

Atharva Rathod and Meher Qasim. 

Lovebirds since adolescence. Bonded by love, separated by circumstances. They part ways only to meet again. But this time, he is on a secret mission...

Are they in control of their own destiny, or its their destiny which is making them dance to its tunes? Only time would answer, as Atharva and Meher unwillingly and unknowingly transcend the seven stages of love. 

A quintessential tale of love and romance marked beautifully by its own rustic old school charm.

                                                       

                                                            My Review

Few weeks ago I was looking for some good books to read and this very book caught my attention, first because of it’s title and later I loved the book cover and positive feedback from the customers and I would really thanks Bookpiper for sending me a review of copy of the book.

UNNS is a story of Arthrav and Meher who fall in love for each other, everything between them was going good until one unfortunate day and they separated before the school ends.  Was it love or infatuation? Confused with the feelings both moved ahead in lives. Arthrav became a RAW and Meher took up her aunt business. Separated for years from each other, they met in Germany but everything between wasn’t alright. Book starts from a teen romance to thriller ride which will entertain it’s readers.

Book talks about seven stages of love, Hub, Unns, Ishq,  Aqeedat, Ibadat, Junoon and Maut which explains various emotions of human. First the stage of attraction-Hub, stage of infatuation- Unns, stage when people actually fall in love- Ishq,  stage of reverence-  Aqeedat, stage when you worship your lover like a God- Ibadaat, stage of obsession- Junoon and last stage of death- Maut.  The book begins with three season- Basant, Herbst and Winter and reflects all seven stages of love into the three segments.

Book title which itself compel reader to read the book describes the third stage of love that is stage of infatuation and the title justifies the book. Story do rotate around it’s title. Talking about the cover picture, which is again beautiful work delivered by Ajitabha Bose. Two people under an umbrella, facing sea and a blue flower atop which says all.

Book is written in fast paced and readers will enjoy it but somewhere I felt author could have worked more on the few chapters. Book language is readable and easy to understand. Readers won’t be pushed into dictionary. I actually completed book in single sitting only problem I found was few editing errors which hinders my path while reading. Characterization was good and I enjoyed reading Atharav, Dev and Meher part. I enjoyed the school portion and such school stories are really relatable and then I enjoyed the ending chapters which actually tighten my grip and I was restless to know more.

Anyone who enjoys reading romance thriller can go ahead with this book.  Book really proves to be satisfying to you.

Overall I would rate UNNS 3/5 stars. Keep up the good work author. Keen to read more from you.

Reviewed by Aditi Srivastava

Book Review – DeAttached Shades of Time by Ram Joshi

Published Year-  2017

Publication- Notionpress.com

Genre- Fiction

Pages- 209

Format- Paperback/Kindle

                                                                  Blurb

""Not everyone is meant to walk together, but true love always leads to the path of freedom and timeless bliss." 

Olivia, a traveler blog writer, left shaken when she returned back from her Europe trip. 

Olivia's mother, Meera claimed she lied all these years about the death of Olivia's father, Rahil. 

Dazed with all the new information Meera revealed, Olivia failed to distinguish if it was true or just an illusion of Meera's ill mind - as doctors indicated the possibility that a person with Alzheimer's might have hallucinations. 

To find out the truth was as crucial for Olivia as for Meera's treatment. 

DeAttached - Two tales at the same point in time unfolds the story of a woman who failed in her relations, happiness in marriage that last long, eternal freedom of a man who never did fly out of his cage, and a journey to live a life of purpose."  

                                                             My Review

DeAttached is a heartwarming story of a family, who got separated due to many reasons, first a daughter who travel across the sea and explore the parts of the world and nestled them into her articles, a loving and caring mother who suffered loss of losing her beloved husband and then she lost memory due to Alzheimer and a father, who never got sufficient time to be with them. Does the people from dead returns or remain alive in the pages of a diary. To find more you gotta get a copy of this book. 

Olivia, a travel blogger, who was having everything perfect in her life; a loving mother and a successful blog which makes her appreciate herself but then one day she finds herself in a situation from which she could neither move ahead nor she could accept more. Olivia lost her father when wasn’t born and then fear of losing the only person of her life make her feel more sick. Degrading health of her mother makes her more conscious until her mother handed her two diaries. Baffled and frightened to accept what lies for her in future she went ahead with the tales scribbled on those pages.

Deattached, the title itself suggest something which is not attached or let’s say some strings are still missing to make a perfect story to come alive. The title of the book goes really well with the book and I really do not want to reveal even a single ounce about the story. Coming to the book cover, which is simple yet elegant. Book cover does a lot for the story and it proved to be fruitful for this one also. I can’t find any flaw to reconsider the book cover.

The story is fast paced and once you starts reading you won’t be able to put it down, I myself completed the book in a single sitting and I’m in tears right now. Thrilling and really very beautifully presented book. The language of the book was so far good but there were few editing mistakes and they can be skipped.

I do not know whom to call my favorite character because every character were perfectly characterized and do justify their roles. Characters makes the book a crisp read and would live up to your expectations. Book really won’t confuse you because book will be dealing with past and present. There would be many portions which make readers go hooked to the seat while other would make you go through memory lane of various folds of human emotions.

I would really recommend this book if you want to sit and relax for some time, book is refreshing. I would rate 3.5/5 stars. Keep up the good work Ram Joshi Ji.

Reviewed by Aditi Srivastava