Book Review: Of Rumours Lived and Told by Ann correa

Of Rumours Lived and Told

Author: Ann Correa

Publisher: Leadstartcorp.com

Rating: 3.5/5

“No one knows for certain how much impact they have on the lives of other people. Oftentimes, we have no clue. Yet we push it just the same.”

― Jay Asher, Thirteen Reasons Why

‘Of Rumours Lived and told’ is a memoir penned down by Ann Correa, a Ph.D. scholar in Manipal University. Her fascination towards the lives of nuns in the Roman Catholic family and the way their lives are shaped by the surrounding is the motivation behind this short narrative.

The memoir talks about a young girl named Andrea, who wants to know more about the life of nuns in her family. As she gets to know more, her expectations change and perspectives strengthen. Right from her Aunt Akkai to Aunt Stella Marie, both have different stories to share.

Soon, Andrea realizes the depth of the impact the aunts’ lives have had on her own life. Life of nuns is not only lonesome but hard-hitting as well. The more Andrea peels the facade of family ties, the more mysterious the stories become. But that also bolsters her desire to write about her aunts.

“Of Rumour Lived and Told” comes with a quirky cover page and attention-grabbing blurb. This is a thin book and promises a quick read. There are some editing errors (grammatical and typos) but the content is impressive.

Overall, this is a good and light read. Good effort by the author!

Buy this book from:

Amazon

Book Review: Another Tale of Two Cities by Ezhuth Aani

Another tale of two cities

Author: Ezhuth Aani

Publisher: Inspire Indian Publishers

Rating: 3.5/5

Engaging and interesting- this is what comes to your mind when you finish ‘Another tale of two cities’. This book is a good work of fiction. The suspense and the execution of the plot will keep the attention of the readers bound. The blurb of the story could have been a little more elaborative. Though it builds up the interest of the readers, it does not meet the expectations. The cover of the book is pleasing and apt. Barring some typos and some editing errors, this book successfully reaches out to the readers of fiction.

With near-to-perfect technical details, the writing style of the author doesn’t fail to impress. The storyline is strong. The way the author has divided the content into different scenes is commendable. However, the lack of dialogues in certain sections might act as a turn-off. Characterization of the protagonists is balanced. The language is lucid and narration is flawless. The author has succeeded in making the readers live every scene of the book. The twists and turns are sure to give you jitters.

Overall, a good book with a lot of history and mystery!

Best wishes to the author!

Buy this book at:

Amazon

Book Review : Thank You Love by Ayush Gupta

Thank You Love

Author: Ayush Gupta

Publisher: Half Baked Beans

Rating: 2.5/5

You ask what is in these days; I say this is the era of people who follow the crowd blindly. And this is quite evident in the field of Indian Literature. 80% of the new books reek of teenage romance. Not that it is not interesting but the excess of everything is monotonous.

‘Thank You Love’ is a debut novella by Ayush Gupta. With a subtle yet simple cover, the book offers a fresh perspective on college/ teen romance. How meditation can restore the peace of mind and help the one who is down in the dumps after a break-up, is what this story highlights. Rayan and Akshita are madly in love with each other, but a sudden change of events forces Akshita to change her priorities and distance herself from Rayan. The story begins with Rayan narrating his love tale to a stranger. Sounds familiar, right? Immediately after reading the prologue, I was reminded of Chetan Bhagat’s novellas where one or the other protagonist narrates his/ her story to our dear author (not to forget Ranbir’s narration to Aishwarya in Ae dil hai mushkil).

The sensitivity and desperation in Rayan’s character is made so evident by the inclusion of his lost love on every page possible. Though there are instances where readers can actually relate well with the protagonist, mid-section of the story is more like a monologue and that is boring. Rayan’s over obsession about getting Akshita’s love back is something that makes his character unlikeable.

Amidst several editing and grammatical errors, and typos, the plot still fails to engage the reader’s attention. The part where meditation as a source of overcoming heartbreak is discussed can be interesting for the ones who are not so familiar with the concept of chakras and silent healing. The blurb, however, could have been written more lucidly and could have given a clearer idea of the basic plot.

The plot is gripping but the major drawback lies in the extended content on the flashback love story. It is high time that the authors realize that penning down each and every minute detail that is either inspired or adapted from a personal experience, makes the story boring and can result in turning the odds against you.

The plot lacks originality. It is very much predictable and might be liked by the ones who prefer mushy love tales/ college romance/ sad- emotional ending. For the ones who are looking for something deep and meaningful, this book might or might not serve the interest.

Overall, a good effort by the author!

Best wishes!

Buy this book from:

Amazon

Book Review: One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat

One Indian Girl

Author: Chetan Bhagat

Publisher: Rupa Publishers

Rating: 2.5/5

Einstein said- If your head tells you one thing and your heart tells you another before you do anything, decide whether you have a better head or a better heart. But According to One Indian Girl, which is more like a handbook on feminism used by male chauvinists, a girl is incapable of making decisions. Result: she regrets it later. After having read some of the really gripping stories presented by Chetan Bhagat, I had high hopes for this book too. But the unreal characters and their ersatz emotions failed to impress. 

Read more here.

GUEST POST #1

HOW TO GET ADMISSION IN A GOOD UNIVERSITY FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION?

So, you have decided to join a distance education course, and you are now confused about how to go about enrolling in one. Fret not, and read on to understand what a good distance university is, how to find one and learn how their admission process works.

What makes a good distance university?

Check rankings (E.g. Google top MBA colleges in India for MBA courses), check when the university was established, check its credibility (brand, history and awards), certifications (e.g. ISO 9001:2008), attend educational seminars and look up educational newspapers such as the Education Plus (The Hindu) or Education Times for information about the university.

How to find one - Search online, word-of-mouth and comparing the syllabus of different universities.

What is the eligibility criteria? There maybe certain minimum requirements to join universities for distance education. These may include, but not be limited to, 10+2 original report cards, original graduation certificates and meeting the minimum cut-off percentages in entrance exams (depending on the university).

So, how does the enrolment process go?

·       Make an application form online

Make sure to complete the online application form with all accurate and relevant details.

Tip: The prospectus can be downloaded from the official website for a fee, or could be requested from the college by sending a DD. When the forms are filled and submitted, the college will then re-check and notify the students.

·       Upload required documents

All important documents such as all marks cards and degree certifications need to be uploaded along with the application form.

Tip: Keep all the scanned copies ready so you can upload them without any delay. Watch out - the requirement may be for attested copies.

·       Attend an online interview (if requested) / or a phone call

Once this is done, the university management team may cross-verify all the details of students and may schedule either an online interview or telephonic interview.

Tip: It’s best to test your phone and internet connectivity consistency before the call to be sure that you have an unhindered interview process. Wait for a decision.

·       Begin admission process

The process may involve an online test followed by counselling leading to admission. The fees structure is based on each semester and may vary as per revisions done by the university’s management.

Tip: Check the mode and the frequency of payment which may offer options such as cheque payment, DD, online payment (NEFT) or others, at quarterly, half-yearly or yearly intervals.

Keep in mind many other aspects that go into making a distance education program enrolment a success. For example, an MBA admission has an intake of two times per year, or one can even choose various courses and specializations that the university offers. The candidate needs to evaluate all the course details to choose the option that is best suited for his/her needs.

The ever evolving 21^st century technology has marked apath of tremendous growth and this has led to a change in the way education is offered. So, why not adapt to the changing times and move away from a typical classroom teaching to an online experience with all the tools at your disposal to succeed?