Book Review: The Flame of Anahata by Saranya Umakanthan

The Flame of Anahata

Author: Saranya Umakanthan

Publisher: General Press

Rating: 3.5/5

With the second book of the series- Come back warrior Trilogy, Saranya has aced the test. Not only have her writing skills been appreciated but her prowess to present mythology fiction to the readers has been acknowledged too. ‘Anahata’- is a Sanskrit word that means "unhurt, unstruck, and unbeaten". Anahata is associated with a peaceful, calm and serene sound. The title of the book presents a contradiction, for the extreme nature of a flame is being given to the Anahata. This title not only evokes intrigue but also makes the readers understand the relation of Anahata with Hinduism and Yoga.

As said by Vilayanur S. Ramachandran, ‘A civilization without mythology is not really a civilization’, mythology books are loved by all readers. The only barrier in understanding this genre is not getting to read the prequels and sequels. ‘The Flame of Anahata’ is the second book in the series. Not having read the first book, I was skeptical to pick up this book but once I started, I never felt a gap. Coherent narration and intelligible plotting are what make this book good. With fine editing and good quality of print, General Press has made a mark in the field of literature too. But somewhere the monologues and the lengthy descriptive paragraph acted as the speed breakers.

Starting with a blend of past life and the present one, the author successfully balanced the personalities of the characters. The interesting prologue and the chronological order of the events helped in not baffling me. Another drawback is the cover of the book. With such a strong title, a more meaningful cover was expected. I presume that the image of the lady is being misunderstood by the readers like me. But we review what we see, isn’t it?

The two protagonists- Suraj and Diya, are no different than our very own Bollywood actors. But there is one thread that makes their love story more interesting. In the past life, when Suraj was a warrior of Shaktipur (Inderjeet), he lost his love owing to his cunning brother. And that is what makes him more determined to win his love in the present time. The story is about how Suraj finishes the unfinished of the past and gets on terms with his life in the present.

Doesn’t this sound familiar? Having recently watched the trailer of ‘Raabta’, I found a connection between the two. And that made me pose this question: Why in India majority of the movies are adapted from the books?

Coming back to the topic, ‘Flame of Anahata’ is a finely written mythological book. The author has done much research on the topic and that can be seen in the way the events (twists and turns) are placed in the story. With a good pace and an engaging plot, this book is worth a read.

Best wishes to the author!

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Amazon

Review copy: Provided by Kalamos Literary Services

Book Review: You Raise Me Up by Arjum Hemmady

You Raise Me Up

Author: Arjun Hemmady

Publisher: Frog Books

Rating: 3/5

There are phases in life when everything seems to fall apart. There are things that cannot be protected from the storms and simply need to be broken off. But there are high chances that some amazingly beautiful things might fill in the gap and life would be back on the four wheels. ‘You Raise Me Up’ reminds me of a book that I once read ‘Tamanna’. The book is based on the introspection and decision-making skills. But unfortunately the former is not at all comparable to the latter. Where Tamanna portrayed mature love (situations being similar), You Raise Me Up is more about teenage romance.

‘You Raise Me Up’ is a story about a confused Aalok, who is a Chartered Accountant by profession. Reading between the lines, I think the author has tried to relieve the pressure in the lives of CA students by presenting them a fictitious account of love. The blurb is not only short but also fails to give a clear picture about the story. The story has nothing new in store for the readers, for it begins with the clichéd Girl-meets-boy concept and ends in Happily-ever-after. Aalok is a mess because his mind is in a conflict- the conflict to choose between Priyanka and Tanvi. Before you put on your thinking caps, let me tell you that the story is not that simple. Aalok meets Priyanka on a flight, but Tanvi has been (or was) an integral part of his life for long.

With strong characterization and smooth plot, the author’s writing skills come in focus and they are good. Lucid narration, good grammar/ vocabulary and a breezy reading are perks that this book offers. There is a reason why I called the love in this story as immature love. Having learned his lessons, Aalok is a character who should know the outcome of pedaling with both legs in different boats. But contrary to this assumption, the author inclined the focus on the intimacy between the protagonists.

“When a man is in love he endures more than at other times, he submits to everything” –Friedrich Nietzsche

The title of the book is baffling and can misguide the readers. The insipid cover and short blurb are not catchy at all. Special appreciation for the author’s ability to bring out the emotional turmoil and making the readers empathize with Aalok.

The story is fast paced. The initial few pages are stretched a bit. But gradually the readers can keep up with the flow of the story. One thing that can deter the readers from completing this book is the lack of action in it. The central theme of varied emotions might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Today, where everyone is looking for something exciting and thrilling to read, this plot might just end up being the cake not worth the candle.

Best wishes to the author!

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Amazon

Book Review: Teenage Diaries by Saurabh Sharma

Teenage Diaries

Author: Saurabh Sharma

Publisher: Leadstart Publications

Rating: 2.5/5

‘I have had playmates, I have had companions; in my days of childhood, in my joyful school-days - All, all are gone, the old familiar faces.’

 ~Charles Lamb

We have all had our share of happiness during our school days. Who doesn’t remember the gossip periods, naming the teacher, the PT periods, first crushes, eagerness to wear coloured clothes on special days, distributing candies to our friends, the illogical fights, baseless arguments, punishments, sharing food with everyone! And to be able to relive those memories will definitely make us grin like a Cheshire cat. But the thought of not meeting the old friends and not being able to get back our childhood days makes the heart sink.

'Teenage Diaries' has all the necessary elements of a Bollywood Drama- love, relationship, friendship, betrayal, death, disappointment. It is, indeed, a rollercoaster ride of emotions. The protagonist is Ghanshyam, who is a pessimistic realist. To give him company and to complement his personality, we have Vikram, the opposite. The author has taken care in introducing the characters properly at regular intervals so that their roles do not get lost within 319 pages.

When I first read the blurb of ‘Teenage Diaries’, I was thrilled to bits. Not only was I ready to relive the old days, but also to cherish the memories. But I was utterly disappointed when I read the first chapter. The uninteresting narration and the description of life when Ghanshyam was a little baby were boring. It was only after the first chapter that the story started making sense. A more impactful first chapter would have done the trick. Another thing I disliked was the use of language. I cannot refrain but write about the generation gap between the children of 1990s and the children of the 21^st century. Where on one hand there are certain instances in the book that force me to rethink of my childhood, the language used and the desperate attempt to incorporate the western slangs into the conversations, puts me in the black mood, for we never used that kind of language. For example, “Don’t bullshit me.”

The author has neglected the use of proper punctuation, for example, on the back cover (blurb) the sentence goes like this: “Wait, what the hell am I asking you to do with deadlines to catch on!?” I cannot help but be disappointed at such misuse of punctuation marks. Another point about the book is the frequent use of Hindi words like ‘yaar’. Also, the inclusion of the intimate romantic scene makes it more like a Chetan Bhagat Novella. And having read bountiful novellas of this genre, this one failed to impress me.

Overall, this book is not a must-keep. But it might be liked by the CB lovers, for it offers a similar storyline with a different flavor.

Best wishes to the author!

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Amazon

Review Copy: Courtesy Author Paradise