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.

*Book Review : Betwixt Twists and Turns: A Potpourri of Short Stories by Mona Mohanty

Name of the Book: Betwixt Twists and Turns: A Potpourri of Short Stories

Author: Mona Mohanty

Publisher: Partridge India

Blurb: Dragonflies are said to be harbingers of rain, but they may be much more for one unsuspecting woman. A household dog finds a reprieve when Grandma comes to stay. A young man stops by an ATM at night and finds himself encountering robbers-and a young woman who may not be what she seems. In Betwixt Twists and Turns, author Mona Mohanty presents a series of short stories born from random thoughts that popped up out of nowhere, overheard bits of conversation, parables of family lore, and anecdotes from friends. These tales come from a variety of viewpoints-an older woman who receives an unexpected telegram, a businessman who encounters what might be a ghost, and various animals sharing their impressions of human life. These stories vividly capture the routine of existence-but with a surprising twist. This collection of short stories set in India features tales with unexpected outcomes from a wide range of perspectives, both human and animal. (Via Amazon)

Verdict: As the blurb states Betwixt Twists and Turns is a short story compilation book which carries varied short stories inspired from the daily life or from the conversations with friends and family. These stories revolve around all forms of life – human and animal, their emotions and impressions of life. Their situations and how they react to such circumstances that happen all of a sudden in their life. As the name suggests, these stories carry a tinge of twist and turn in their existence. Will the author successfully take off the twist and turns in the stories? Or will that fail to hold readers curiosity and greed to complete the book in one single read? Let’s find out!

Positives:                   

1) The book cover is good.

2) The language used throughout is quite simple for readers to understand and there are quite few new words one can learn too.

3) The pictures used before each short story is a nice idea.

4) The short stories are literally very short and for a change it feels good to read them and some of them can give you goose bumps by their turns in the end.  

5) The paper quality of the book is quite good too.

Negatives:

1)   There was one word missing in a sentence in a story. (that’s all I could find out)

2)   The book is quite over priced as compared to the number of pages and the fact that it’s a short story compilation.

To sum up the review it’s a great book to read and relax one’s mind from the hustle bustle of daily life chores. It certainly perks up one’s mood and creates excitement to find out what other stories hold in them for the readers. The twists and turns are great in some of the stories. Some will like the real shortness of the stories while others won’t but you will definitely like the stories itself. All in all it’s a good read.

Ratings: 4 OUT OF 5.

Book Details:

Title: Betwixt Twists and Turns: A Potpourri of Short Stories

Publisher: Partridge India

Author: Mona Mohanty

Edition: Paperback

Language: English

ISBN-13: 978-1482874174

ISBN-10: 1482874172

No. of Pages: 122

Price:  299 Rs

Purchase Link:   Click Here!

©Heena Ahuja

24^th August, 2016

*The book copy has been given to the reviewer by Tushti.