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 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- The Shrine of Death by Divya Kumar Summers are made for reading. Especially Mysteries & Thrillers. In a hot, sultry afternoon when I am dozing at work, the only things which keeps my brain cells alive is the tick tock of the clock to strike 5 & the anticipation of reading the thriller on the way to home. So when I got the opportunity to read The shrine of death by Divya Kumar, I knew I had to read it. It had all the perfect ingredients to make a perfect potpourri of a gripping thriller. Interesting Characters, catchy dialogues, urban legend of finding the stolen treasures &an unique story plot.  Prabha Sinha, an IT professional based in Chennai has recently quit her job in order to do something worthwhile with her life. Weighing between the heavy memories of her bohemian family & applying simultaneously for a new job, she receives a call from her long-lost friend Sneha Pillai. Sneha Seems to be in distress, but due to poor connection...

The Puffin Book of Folktales in collaboration with Penguin & UNESCO  Its almost an end of the day, but just not an ordinary day. Its World Book Day & for all the book lovers out there in the vast world, this day is just an excuse to read more and purchase just that one book (I promise its the last book)  So when today morning, i received mail from @vivekisms (From Flipkart)  About a book of folktales, I knew i had to read this book & Write about it.  No matter how old or how young we are, our quest for reading always begins with folktales. Some are told by our grandparents, a few we read, a few embellished tales we see on television. The quest, thankfully is not quenched and a reader is forever in search of  folk lore.  From time immemorial, books are a gateway to our culture, to a country, our thoughts and beliefs. Folk tales are originated from our lands, they are the very much center of every culture in this world & from ea...

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- Letters to my Ex by Nikita Singh The story starts with Nidhi leaving her fiance Abhay on the day of their engagement. As the author introduces us to Nidhi's world, we are shown a glimpse in Nidhi & Abhay's broken universe. She starts writing these unsent letters to Abhay where she explains the state of her heart, mind on why did she leave him. Its writing therapy, she explains. The story moves forward with letters, chat, coffee meets . Letters are written both by Nidhi & Abhay. Both of them are trying to move on and trying to find alternative soul partners. As a reader, even i could feel the compatilibilty between Nidhi & Abhay. Their high school romance blossoming to years of "togetherness" in college and when they finally face an unresolved issue in their lives is written with a touching flair. As the author, Nikita Singh deftly describes Nidhi's condition, the emotions she is going through, her heart to heart talk...

Cover Reveal of Nikita Singh's Letters to My Ex I am not much of a love story person. They are good, when they are stories. But what sometimes becomes special, when you can connect with the same person with the renewed intensity again. "Letters to My Ex" by Nikita Singh is one of those books, turned out to be that book  which instantly connected with me through its blurb and its beautiful cover. I am grateful to the publishers - Harper Collins Publishers India for giving me this opportunity to reveal the cover of this book- Without much further ado, here is the beautiful cover-  This book releases on 14th Feb'18. Mark your calendar dear folks. As per the press release from the publishers - Harper Collins India- With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, it is time for a rekindling of memories and stories – of romance and  heartbreak. To add to the season’s spirit, here is a novel that is not just about idyllic love, but of what comes after, and in be...

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 ...

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...

Thoughts & Review on- Sourdough by Robin Sloan I want to stop writing now, go home and bake something. Anything cake, bread, cookie, pie. But bake, because as cliche as it may sound baking is theraupatic. And sourdough is a step up. If baking bread with yeast is therapeutic, then baking with a starter is nirvana, its a demanding relationship between the starter & the baker but albeit a very fulfilling one. After completing reading this book, i went off for lunch in cafeteria. The  fragrant cooked spices coated my finger tips, as i dipped tiny pieces of roti into the "aloo-mutter" gravy. I couldn't help but think, about it origins, about how perfectly mix of spices brought together and produced a perfect blend to satisfy our taste buds. These thoughts were purely originated thanks to the book- Sourdough by Robin Sloan. I picked up this book to read on a whim, when i saw its interesting cover on Reddit.com . The title itself appealed me to read. The book ...

 Thoughts & Review on- The Golden House by Salman Rushdie.  There are times in this novel, when the novel ceases to become a novel, a mere collection of words which when uniformly comes together becomes a character, story or event. The novel becomes a person. It reaches out to grab you, convinces you and manages you to sit at one place & read it completely, devour it, savor it. This is what "The Golden House" does. It consumes you in a good way. You want to grab everyone coming in your way & talk about the literary headiness this novel induces. Unfortunately few understand & we are trapped in our own madness. We stumble across, fall down, the void left when you complete reading this novel, until you begin another one. Which i as a reader don't want to. I want to badly meet Nero the pseudo Caesar, Vasilisa the Russian wife, Trilogy of Golden sons- Petya, Apu &D, the not so innocent bystander-Rene and i want to visit New York & Bombay again. T...