Book Review of Unfettered Wings

The end is the new beginning!

They say for the new to grow and nurture, the old has to be destroyed.

Extraordinary Stories of Ordinary Women the “Unfettered Wings”, by Sana Munir shook me the core, making me realize of the fragile world we live in. One that can break at any moment and they too say that “things are not what they seem.”

We seem to have tread in a treacherous paths with the expectation to see a beautiful world beyond the horizon, but at the same time we might get famished, if what lies beyond doesn’t fathom the expectation we had.

Sana Munir have woven stories with endings that will make you question the very existence of human beings and once you have finished reading, you will be left all alone to search for the meaning humanity, like an oasis in a desert.

The stories will have a deep impact on you and will alter your way of thinking about women. Women who have faced all odds but have stood the test of time being bold and fearless. These stories might have happened to women in a certain period of time. Having said that, it might be possible that these are real stories, which we can relate to and sadly such circumstances and scenarios are still a part of today’s world.

The author has given a voice to these stories. Ones that aren’t spoken of or would have succumbed to the noise around it.

However challenging life might become, it can’t rain forever! Life will always find a way to to grow. Its in its very DNA to do everything in its power to make human lives better and in case of the women mentioned here, it might have left scars on them but have made them bold and fearless. And made them

the ones we call as “the survivors.”

Never ever have I come across a book of any genre, that has shook me to the core. It has let me with so many emotions running at the same time that I was confused how to handle it all at the same time. For most of the time the emotions are extreme. Lives are being shattered and then there is a ray of hope with love stories and then they are totally unpredictable in ways that I haven’t imagined. So, much has happened in the stories that it will take a toll on you and can affect you in many ways.

An eerie silence took over me, mixed with bewilderment when the author silently questions the very existence of human beings. Some stories left me numb and some tore me apart.

How can you pen down so many emotions and write the harsh realities of life in a single book, I wonder?

Only a person with incredible story telling skills can do such a magic.

Hats-off to Sana Munir to have penned down such wonderful stories.

“Unfettered Wings” will send a chill down your spine and will shake the very ground beneath your feet and at the same time will kindle and nurture hope. Hope for a new beginning.

You might question how? How on earth is it possible to have such diverse nature of stories be in a single book.

Ah ha! There is one way.

Start reading from Page 1.

The stories will spellbound you and you will be amazed by the versatility of the author, her command over the story telling skills and the nature of stories that she has chosen to share.

You won’t survive the landslide of stories that this book has to offer. The messages they deliver are a question to humanity and on its true existence. Not only that it expects us to care for everyone around us and to treat them with respect. Only then the true purpose of the stories will be fulfilled.

Happy Reading!

Paradise Towers by Shweta Bachchan-Nanda Cover Reval

HarperCollins India to launch Shweta Bachchan-Nanda’s debut novel, Paradise Towers, on 10^th October 2018

HarperCollins India is delighted to announce that Shweta Bachchan-Nanda’s debut, Paradise Towers, will release on 10^th October 2018, with a book launch event in Mumbai. A heart-warming slice-of-life novel set in an apartment building in Mumbai, Paradise Towers, is a riveting read brimming with the drama and intrigue of everyday lives. The book is now available for pre-order on major online retail sites.

About Paradise Towers:

Dinesh opens the door to the Kapoor flat to find Lata, the enchantress who works at Mrs Aly Khan’s, carrying a hot case with freshly made gaajar ka halwa. On the first floor, the inquisitive Mrs Mody wipes the dust off her precious binoculars to spy on the building’s security guard. The Singhs open the doors of their SUV, their four boys creating a ruckus – they are the newcomers, the outsiders. Through the peephole, the ever-watchful Mrs Ranganekar observes their arrival. Welcome to Paradise Towers, an apartment building in central Mumbai. Everyone here has a story to tell. Or maybe they have stories to hide.

        

  Shweta Bachchan-Nanda’s quirky, intimate debut explores the intertwined lives in this building – a forbidden romance, an elopement, the undercurrents of tension in corridor interactions and an explosive Diwali celebration. Shweta Bachchan-Nanda’s is a dazzling voice that will draw you into the intoxicating, crazy world that is Paradise Towers.

Speaking about how she came to write Paradise Towers, Shweta Bachchan-Nanda said, ‘I grew up with my grandfather who was a poet and a writer. Writing and reading was always a very important part of our lives. I’ve been writing a diary ever since I was a little girl, and wrote stories that I never shared with anyone. Then, one day I just said, I am going to take this plunge. I started writing a column for a newspaper in Mumbai and it gave me a lot of confidence to go ahead and do this full time, and that’s where Paradise Towers comes from.’

Karan Johar, renowned filmmaker, further added, ‘Observant, moving, hilarious and exceptionally astute... Paradise Towers is no slice of life...it's an entire loaf. Shweta “builds” her debut novel with the ease of a literary veteran. Go find your Paradise between these pages!’

Shreya Punj, Assistant Editor, HarperCollins India, who acquired the book, said, ‘I fell in love with the story when I first read it. Now, Paradise Towers is ready to meet its readers, and I cannot wait for people to fall in love with this quirky, intimate world Shweta has created. We’re proud to be publishing her debut – it’s fresh, insightful and a story that will resonate with everyone.’

About the author: Shweta Bachchan-Nanda is a columnist for DNA and Vogue. A well-known personality, she is the daughter of actors Jaya and Amitabh Bachchan. Shweta is married to Nikhil Nanda and is the mother of two children. She has her own clothing label, MxS, which launched in 2018. She lives in New Delhi. This is her first novel.

For more information, please contact - Shabnam.Srivastava@harpercollins.co.in

Imprint: HarperCollins India Price: Rs 250

Book Review of Rakshas by Rajiv G Menon.

“Rahshasas- TheShadow Warriors,” by Rajiv G. Menon will give you goosebumps. The voracity of the book will thrill you to the core. From the story telling level, this book completely captures the attention of the reader, to the level where you feel as a part of the book itself. 

With all the wars waging on, killings and so much going on there wasn’t a moment where you could have stopped to contemplate what would happen next. And that is what makes the story worth reading. Mythology has an aura of its own and Rajiv has done a great job in justifying each and every character, plot and the situation where everything happens with such detail that simply puts him in an elite category.

Yes, the Devas are Gods, but to have shown the very human nature of Indra, in the book was simply amazing. I loved the prospect that Gods can even sometimes be like humans, who are clouded with prejudices, and to single out such instances is only possible when you have a heightened sense of creativity and imagination. This is one of the many qualities that singles out Rajiv from all other authors in this genre.

When I first started reading the story, I sincerely wished to have read the Book 1 of the series, as I got completely lost with so many characters being introduced. But as I carefully read the book, I got a better idea about the characters and their roles in specific. The pace of the story was good, it was full with twists and turns, making it an ultimate thriller of a story.

 

Keep an eye on the “Blue One,” as you read the story as he is the single most influential character in the story. With the war raging on he will take matters into his own hands and will change the course of history once and for all.

Read the book to find out more about the Rakshasas and the mighty warriors, who will leave no stones unturned to save their land. Be prepared to relive the ancient battle. I didn't speak about the story as I didn't want to be a spoiler.

Let the storm rage on!

I received a copy of the book from WritersMelon.com in exchange for an honest review. Thanks a lot WritersMelon for giving me this wonderful opportunity.

Book Review of Kaash kashmir by Rajesh Talwar

Kaash Kashmir is a play that takes place in the backdrop of Pakistan trying to make Kashmir as a part of it. The Kashmiri Pandits had to flee the region amongst the growing violence and threats to their presence in the valley.

There is an sense of eeriness in the atmosphere. Nothing feels right for the Pandits who have stayed in the region for many regions and still they were forced to leave the valley due to the increasing violence. The situation is grave and things quickly change from bad to worse in a flick of an eye.

Inside all these killings, rapes and death threats the author still finds a way to kindle love. Now when in Kashmir, love too comes at a price. Its not a price that you and me can pay. Two teenagers fall in love, but they fall in love with the person from a different religion; Rohan a Hindu and Ayesha a Muslim. When you fall in love with a Muslim when you are a Hindu, you have to face the consequences that lies ahead.

With so much going on Rohan and his family had to move out of the valley and settle in Delhi.

Now what will happen to Rohan and his love for Ayesha. Most importantly what will happen to Kashmir, will it fight for its own Independence or be a part of Pakistan. With the future being uncertain, there is too much at stake.

Everything that has to be attained, will come at a price.

Will you pay the price for what will follow next?

The story is fast paced with the author doing justice to the story. He had put all the elements of mystery, suspense, love, hate and violence in the story, which will spellbound you. The story will keep you guessing about what will happen next and what path will it take.

Now that what makes the plot worth reading. Rajesh Talwar’s play will make you rethink how grave is the situation in Kashmir, to what lengths the Indian army and the government has to go to bring peace in the region.

Keep reading to find out what will happen to the love between Rohan and Ayesha. Will peace prevail in the region?

Whatever maybe the situation, the people in Kashmir will only grow strong with such situations and create a new sense of brotherhood.

Wish the people of Kashmir all the good luck, no matter what the situation is lets strive for a better tomorrow, not with violence but with peace.

Life is what matters by Alka Dixit

Life is what happens to us when we are planning something else.

We as human beings are so entwined to the flow of the world that we rarely give time to things that matters the most. Most of the time we doubt ourselves when we are about the take the next big step, which will change our lives forever. But still can’t. The fear of things has done more damage to our dreams than failure itself.

Why you may ask?

Believe me its the mindset of a particular person. And the way you treat life as. If you believe that you can achieve the impossible, you will be able to but for that you need to feed and train your brain with thoughts that will help you achieve the impossible.

Life is like your child! Like you care

Care for it as your own. Love it the most, give it the freedom to spread its wings and do everything possible to help it grow and nurture it as you will for your child. And one day you will reap the results.

Let me tell you something in Alka’s words

You have that one very special person in your life for whom you can do anything. Right?

Be kind on yourself and make that very special person as you. Do everything you can for this person, no matter what the price. Once you have done that you will be amazed by the positivity you release to the people around you.

Life is what matters by Alka Dixit, gives you an in-depth analysis on how to live life and the changes you have to make in your current day to day routine to achieve massive success.

It is one such book that spells positivity to every page you turn to. Alka explains in details the things or habits that you have to hold on to no matter what and some habits that you have to immediately let go.

The book is filled with many such little things, when taken care of can lead to stupendous results and life will never be the same again. And at the same time we have to accept the fact that we too are humans and we make mistakes. What is more important, is the learning we take from those mistakes.

There is a saying

“When you have God by your side,

it doesn’t means that you won’t face the storm.

What it means that your boat will never sink.”

Life is simply awesome and you can make it even better. Stay with it, love it, nurture it like a kid and you are bound to make it a spectacular one. Alka Dixit has done a splendid job in writing this book and I can assure you will be spellbound with the success mantras of the book.

Happy Reading!