*Book Review : 31 Miles: Can We Ever Win Against Ourselves? by Vinita Bakshi

Name of the Book: 31 Miles: Can We Ever Win Against Ourselves?

Author: Vinita Bakshi

Publisher: Rupa Publications India

About the Author: Vinita Bakshi is an-award winning sociologist and social entrepreneur. She is an alumunus of prestigious Delhi School of Economics.
She has founded a non-profit organization-AAMBRA Foundation, with a vision towards women empowerment and skill development. She is the chief architect and brain behind, She Speaks, a triennial seminar series dealing with the issues faced by the contemporary South Asian women. She is also the founder of AMBROTSAVE, an annual cultural festival which brings to the fore not only Literature but also the visual and performing arts, crafts, cuisines, weaves and many waning traditions of India. She is currently serving as Director of National Institute of Jewelry (NIJ), Delhi.
Vinita has a passion for literature and writes fiction and non-fiction, bilingually in English and Hindi. She has also published papers on gender on feminism. (Via Amazon)

Blurb: Mansa has the perfect family life—a husband, two daughters and a big house. But she feels that something is missing. Her frustration with being just a homemaker intensifies. After shifting to a major city, she decides to take the reins of her life in her own hands, she decides to step out and seek a career. While enjoying the new-found freedom and confidence, she completely immerses herself in her work and her new life. Till one fateful day when she finds herself embroiled in a passionate affair—with an online lover. And then everything falls apart!
31 Miles is the story of a woman who finds her own worth after marriage and works towards self-emancipation. Will she give it all up for the elusive mirage created by the stranger? What turn will her life take next? (Via Amazon)

Verdict: As the blurb clearly states, the story is about Mansa who is happily settled in her life with a perfect family. She has everything that someone wants but still she misses something in her life. After taking hold of her life and career in her hands she is overwhelmed with the exposure of outside world and the pleasure of earning on her own, until the day she found herself passionately involved with an online lover. She is stuck between her perfect family and the passion she feels for a man she hasn’t met. What happens in her life? Will he give up her family, her perfect life and kids for an online lover? Or will she keep on suppressing her passion and live her life with her husband and daughters? Let’s find out.!

Positives:                                     

1) Good story line.

2) Amazing cover.

3) The characters have been described to their true self.

Negatives:

1)   There are some times where the discussions of life and relationships feel stretched and repeated.

2)   Once Madhulika’s name has been replaced by Malvika.

3)   Few editing mistakes which if corrected could make reading more interesting.

To sum up with the review the mid portion does seem to be repetitive with philosophies of love and life but once that is over the story will keep you hooked as it moves further into Mansa’s life. The end will shake off whatever the reader feels about the story and will wait to know more about Mansa and her life. The downsides of the story are the editing mistakes and the repetitive narration of life and love that Mansa has in her mind. It’s still worth reading for I am surely waiting for the next part to come.

Ratings: 3 OUT OF 5.

Book Details:

Title: 31 Miles: Can We Ever Win Against Ourselves?

Publisher: Rupa Publications India

Author: Vinita Bakshi

Edition: Paperback

Language: English

ISBN-13: 978-8129142290

No. of Pages: 234

Price:  207 Rs

Purchase Link:   Click Here

©Heena Ahuja

2^nd January, 2017


*This book has been provided to the reviewer by the author.

Book Review : Where the Rainbow Ends by Anurag Anand

Name of the Book: Where the Rainbow Ends

Author: Anurag Anand

Publisher: Srishti Publishers

About the Author: Anurag is an Indian author best-known for his book, The Legend of Amrapali. He completed his early education from Mount Egmont School in Darjeeling followed by Delhi Public School in New Delhi. He completed his MBA from Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management and has been a part of the corporate world ever since. Some of his other works include Birth of the Bastard Prince, Of Tattoos and Taboos!, Reality Bites and Pillars of Success. (Via Flipkart)

Blurb: Even the most artistic of imaginings can sometimes seem callow in the face of truth. That which appears may not be and that which lies hidden might just be the stark, naked face of reality. Rahul had everything going his way – a soaring career, a happy family and all else a man his age could yearn for. And then suddenly his life began to crumble all around him, disintegrating element after precious element, leaving him to watch in helpless horror. Where had he gone wrong? Was there still hope for redemption, even a solitary ray that he could cling on to? Avantika, a pretty, vivacious girl who had come into Rahul's life by pure accident, literally, has suddenly gone missing. Just like that, without as much as a trace. Where is Avantika? Will Rahul be able to find her? Is it her own past that has come back to consume her or is it something even more vicious and sinister? Shalini, Rahul's first love and a girl accustomed to leading life on her own terms. Hailing from a family that exerts considerable influence in the galleries of politics and power, she certainly has the wherewithal to impact a lot of things. Even lives. Is Shalini fostering a grudge that could displace not one but many lives? Could she be the one behind Avantika's mysterious disappearance? Where The Rainbow Ends is a racy page-turner that promises to take you on a tempestuous and soul-stirring journey which shall remain with you long after you have put the book down. (Via Amazon)

Verdict: The blurb clearly states that ‘Where the Rainbow Ends’ is a story of Rahul whose life is like a roller coaster ride. He has been there when life was souring up and above and even when it took him down along with all of what he had leaving him helpless. He watched all of these changes with horror, shock and helplessness. Just when everything was going wrong he met Avantika, the effervescent girl, by pure accident. And suddenly after being friends for quite some time she has gone missing leaving Rahul into much more shocking horror than before. Rahul though has his own reasons to doubt his first love Shalini; but will those doubts remain just doubts or will they prove to be true enough and bring much more horror in Rahul’s life. All the answers to these doubts and mysterious lie in this book

Positives:                   

1) Good story line.

2) Great cover.

3) The characters are defined wonderfully. Even the bond between Rahul and Myra, Myra and Avantika are well described.

4) The language used is simple yet not simple. One will get to learn few new words to add to their dictionary.

Negatives:

1)   There are some events and places described in the book are described a little too longer for few readers liking.

2)   The fact about Avantika’s disappearance is only know to Rahul but it should have been shown how and when Rahul breaks the news to Myra given the bond the two share. It’s a sure miss that makes the story to feel incomplete.

To sum up with the review it’s a good story line, one that will surely teach you a few nice lessons about life and about relationships too. All in all it’s a good read.

Ratings: 4 OUT OF 5.

Book Details:

Title: Where the Rainbow Ends

Publisher: Srishti Publishers

Author: Anurag Anand

Edition: Paperback

Language: English

ISBN-13: 978-9382665014

ISBN-10: 9382665013

No. of Pages: 206

Price:  89 Rs

Purchase Link:   Click Here

©Heena Ahuja

4^th November, 2016

*Book Review : Love Bi the Way by Bhaavna Arora

Name of the Book: Love Bi the Way

Author: Bhaavna Arora

Publisher: Penguin Random House India Private Limited

About the Author: Bhaavna Arora is the bestselling author of the Deliberate Sinner and Mistress of Honour. Before her foray into writing, she was heading a business school as a director; she also trains students and professionals on leadership. She holds two management degrees and a Ph.D. in Leadership from Pittsford University.

A fourth-generation army kid, Bhaavna is a true patriot. She enjoys reading, travelling, swimming, horse riding and playing sports and has a fancy for big bikes and cars.  (Via Amazon)

Blurb: Rihana is a painter who is trying to find inspiration in love. Zara is a businesswoman trying to make a niche for her company in a male-dominated world. Rihana is fire, Zara is ice; Rihana is openly sensual, while Zara is more cautious with her heart—they are opposites that attract. They are different people bound together by their house—‘Cupid’—and their pet golden retriever, Tiger.

As both of them navigate their fulfilling careers and try to leave behind troubled pasts, they find solace in each other. But Tiger’s not the only male in their lives. Rihana finds herself a string of sexy men, while Zara emerges out of her shell and meets an actual prince who sweeps her off her feet. But can these relationships last? And what road will they take when love happens bi the way? (Via Amazon)

Verdict: As the blurb states that the story revolves around Rihana and Zara who’re painter and businesswoman respectively. Both of them are totally opposite in nature and the way they hold their heart too. They are bound together by their bond they share along with their house and their pet. Both of them are running away from their disturbing pasts and trying to live in present to find peace and freedom in their own aspects. Will they be able to achieve what they want? As the blurb says Rihana finds a string of sexy men but will she be able to find her true one? On the other hand Zara finally is able to come out of her cautious shell and meets an actual prince but will this last forever? Or will love find a way in some other way, with someone else? The journey of growth and confidence of these women is brilliantly detailed in this book. So let’s find out the answers to the questions the blurb has raised.

Positives:                   

1) The book cover is good and apt to the theme and essence of the book.

2) The language used throughout is quite simple along with quite new words for readers to understand and learn too.

3) The characters in the book are perfectly described.

4) The story revolves equally around the lives of both the characters.

To sum up with the review it’s a good story line with detailed preview of the lives of both the main characters. There are some happy and some sad moments. There are some great moments too in the book. It does leave a message for everyone out there who judges the lives and love of others who aren’t living life in the societies defined way. It’s worth reading.

Ratings: 4 OUT OF 5.

Book Details:

Title: Love Bi the Way

Publisher: Penguin Random House India Private Limited

Author: Bhaavna Arora

Edition: Paperback

Language: English

ISBN-13: 978-0143425298

ISBN-10: 0143425293

No. of Pages: 248

Price:  139 Rs

Purchase Link: Click Here

©Heena Ahuja

18^th September, 2016

*This book has been provided to the reviewer by Tushti.