Literary Thoughts of a Dragon Fly

Thoughts and review on - The Beauty of the Moment by Tanaz Bhathena "Nothing lasts forever," I Say. " Not this snowflake.Not our homes, not our families. But it doesn't mean you can't live in the beauty of the moment." "A girl like that" was a hauntingly sad, beautiful debut by Tanaz Bhathena, so when i got the opportunity to read "The beauty of the moment " almost a year later, I knew i wouldn't be disappointed. The book begins with Susan Thomas, recent immigrant to Mississuaga , Canada with her mother Aruna from Jeddah. Susan Thomas's father Rensil is in Jeddah, who keeps on promising the family, that he will soon leave Jeddah and join them. Susan Thomas is an intelligent , focused student, who joins Arthur Elsridge school, where she struggles initially to make friends . She pines for her old life and friends in Jeddah. In between the heart murmurings and the longings, we are also shown Susan, who is also a quiet rebe...

Thoughts on Nadia Akbar’s debut novel- Goodbye Freddie Mercury “ Goodbye everybody I've got to go Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth Mama, ooo” – Freddie Mercury The psychedelic cover will attract you first, then the title, then Lahore & then the story of many lives intertwined in the book. The book stays with you after a long time it gets over & you think about the characters, thinking about their lives, about Lahore or perhaps how as an Indian reader one finds so many similarities in Lahore and its inhabitants. In bringing Lahore, its language and the people alive , Nadia Akbar does a commendable job in her debut Novel – Good bye Freddie Mercury. The book is like a heady cocktail mix which you want to sip it slowly & soak in all the flavors of life, love, friendships, family & of course music. The story is moved forward with the alternating voices of Nida & Bugsy. Nida has just started her college in Lahore &...

Thoughts & Review on “Love Curry” by Pankaj Dubey Imagine a   flavor full curry of characters. The spices are perfectly blended and they complement each other. Each are incomplete without the other. That is what “Love Curry” by Pankaj Dubey is all about. Three roommates, from three neighboring sub continents& just like their neighboring countries relationships with each other, Rishi Mathur from India, Shehzad from Bangladesh & Ali from Pakistan have with each other. They quarrel, they bicker, fight world wars over cricket matches & food and yet they remain best of friends at heart and lookout   for each other. The three roommates apart from sharing the flat in London & also share a turbulent, troubled past each different from one another. They have all come to London to escape the past and form their lives again. Rishi, wants to be a nondescript & a sustaining employee anywhere, where he is in the background & he can survi...

Thoughts & Review on Story wallah by Neelesh Misra’s Mandali छोटी सी कहानी से, बारिशों की पानी से सारी वादी भर गयी न जाने क्यों, दिल भर गया न जाने क्यों आँख भर गयी This beautiful song written by Gulzaar saab captures the perfect essence of a story & monsoon. Stories, lyrics, novels are the only everlasting magic for us. Neelesh Misra’s Mandali spins that magic yarn for us and shares us with heart-warming, earthy stories, to make this very moody monsoon a bit tolerable for us. I heard first about Neelesh Misra on Twitter reading his lyrics/poems in Hindi on Twitter ages ago. Now when, I got this opportunity to read his book- Neelesh Misra Mandali’s Storywallah, I took up the opportunity to read it.  There is something about short stories, they engulf you in their world for a short time & yet stay with you with forever. Neelesh Misra’s Mandali’s –“Storywallah” is the collective efforts from different authors who have written 20 stories. Each s...

Thoughts & Review on Eleventh Hour by S.Hussain Zaidi "Terrorism is a psychological warfare. Terrorists try to manipulate us and change our behavior by creating fear, uncertainty, and division in society." - Patrick Kennedy Recently suspended SP Vikrant Singh, earned his suspension while hitting a Pakistan High Commissioner at a diplomatic meet, the reason being injustice & irresponsibility of the neighboring country’s stand on 26/11 attacks. SP Vikrant Singh was the master mind behind the arrest of the five terrorists from IS who were involved in 26/11 Mumbai Attack.   The five dangerous terrorists escape from Bhopal jail and SP Vikrant is brought on the case as a consultant by his mentor Shahwaz Ali Mirza and together they start tailing the five terrorists across the states. During the same time, a cruise liner on Indian Waters is hijacked by Somalian Pirates. And here is where the real story develops & Connects. The twists and turns, the he...

Thoughts & Review on Shyam -An Illustrated Retelling of the Bhagvata by Devdutta Pattanaik How will you define Shyam ? Is he your friend, lover, husband, well wisher, inspiration behind countless songs/dances, stories, the epitome of bhakti devotion, or a great warrior or perhaps he is  the most famous historical/ mythological figure of our times. What is Shyam to us ? Perhaps that is a personal question for all of us and most of all it is a question of faith. Shyam by Devdutt Pattanaik an illustrated retelling is the story of Shyam from his magical birth to his end. Devdutt Pattanaik explores the  myth, historical facts & concept of Shyam as explored in other religions too. The book begins on how Krishna looked & exploring various ways of Krishna being worshiped differently through all ages, countries, religions. The story begins when Vyasa retells the story of Shyam to his reluctant baby Shuka. "It is the story of God on earth, of the journey of the in...

Thoughts & Review on - Job be Damned by Rishi Piparaiya  Picture this real life incident:- Me- who struggles all day long, actually works, prepares report, consumption analysis, deals with other departments, slogs till 5 pm Conclusion- who gets the promotion/increment- Not me Another colleague- Who is on the phone all day long, pantry is his unofficial cabin, books tickets for senior colleagues and boss-etc, takes half day leave & goes home. Conclusion: - who gets the promotion/increment- Him If you are like me, stuck somewhere on corporate ladder and racing to heaven or hell, then this book is for you. When I was offered the book “Job be Damned” by Rishi Piparaiya   for review, I had that illusion, that the book was going to pull me out of monotonous life of a desk job and make me an outside of the box, the innovative, fire cracker of an employee. What I didn’t realize, that I was in for a ride, a corporate roller coaster, laughter guarantee...

Thoughts & Review on - A girl like that by Tanaz Bhathena  Confession :-  I was interested in the book when I got a chance to read the blurb, what i didn't realize that it was going to be a trip down memory lane, back to school, back to first heart breaks, love, first kiss & friendships for life. I almost risked today at job for reading this book at my work desk for the whole day, ignoring work, colleagues & passing the day like a zombie. I didn't know i was in for a ride, chanting names of Zarin & Porus. The heaviness tugged at my heart & I was left in tears. Their story began where most stories ended.  Name :- A Girl like that Author :- Tanaz Bhathena Genre :- YA Fiction Publisher :- Penguin Books-Penguin Random House India ISBN :- 9780143443018 No.of Pages :- 378 Book source :- Flipkart Review Programme You can buy the book from :- Flipkart | Amazon | Infibeam | Zarin Wadia story begins even before she is born, she is const...

Thoughts & Review on- Pinto has an idea by Rajeev Saxena I am reminded of our young canteen employee, while writing this review. He is a well educated individual, albeit doing a job way below his qualifications.However, unknown and sad his circumstances might be which forced him to take up this job, you can see his ingenious skills in the way he washes the cups, saucers, hangs the kitchen towels to dry, etc. His tea making skills might need a little more practice, but his "jugaad" skills are definitely being put to good use. "Pinto has an idea" by Rajeev Saxena is story of a boy named Rajat Srivastava poplularly known as "Pinto" by everyone. It starts in a small town Atrauli in UP, where Pinto a young innovator, sets his curious mind to solve everything in his life. His first invention being a tool on how to remove the kernels of a corn successfully. This little idea germinates the seed of inventing things in life to make day to day living easy. ...

Thoughts & Review on- "The Nine Chambered Heart" By Janice Pariat When i had read the blurb of a book, I knew i was in for a tempting ride. And this was same perhaps for all the readers. In the recent times, no such book has touched the core of my heart as this book. The book is divided into Nine Chapters, nine lovers who trace their journey with "You" a girl who is not named through out the book. She is journey her course of life in cities with river, without river , countries. Her lovers change do. Its not a deliberate change it just happens. The flow is smooth. IT doesn't break, its seamless. The lovers in her life describe her and their relationship with her. A fleeting mention is also there of her estranged relationship with her parents. The chapters starts with a school teacher, a college student, a married man, a room mate & so on. In the end she is again with a much older married man. In retrospective, one can alternately title this ...

Th oughts & Review on- Murder in Paharganj-A Vicks Menon Thriller by Kulpreet Yadav Murder mysteries are always welcome. Whether they are divided into whodunit, howdunit or any other genre. After all murder is murder and mystery is mystery. Its a fascinating ride. After finishing reading this book, i was instantly reminded of  Sudhir and Vinod who become impromptu investigative reporter when they stumble on a murder in the movie-Jaane bhi do yaaron. Of course, its a satire movie, a bit dark chasing evils more closer to the homeground. Vicks Menon, an unemployed investigative reporter finds himself in a interesting murder case of a foreigner woman named Sherry Bing in a seedy, low-down Le yogi Deluxe hotel in Pahargunj, Delhi. Unfortunately the friend who passes him the information, gives away Vicks Menon's name when the police comes to investigate the murder. Vicks menon, hot already on the murderer's trail sends a article about the murder to his former employer an...

T houghts & Review on- A Column of Fire by Ken Follett I was a little bit apprehensive & scared to read a book of such a mammoth size. I was scared in the first place, that i wouldn't be able to complete this book reading or lose interest & leave midway. Thank fully none of such catastrophes actually occurred & I did finish reading the book, albeit mostly at work, in bus, at times at home. It filled me with a strange void when the book almost came to an end. Because while reading this book, this book was my home, the characters my family & the story my soul. This is the third novel in the kingsbridge series. Fortunately enough, this novel can also be read as a standalone book. Set in the most challenging times of English history, Kingsbridge witnesses the ups and downs of powerful families, fall and rise of English Empire, wars between religions and sect, small but vital love story which spans over 50 years. The story begins with young Ned Willard wh...