Book Review: An Ode To Shimla by Sanjeev Bansal

An Ode to Shimla

Author: Sanjeev Bansal

Publisher: Frog Books

Nature is like a dauntless princess who has a natural aura of her own. Once captivated by her enigmatic beauty, it is very difficult to escape the trance and not think about her. ‘Shimla’ is a name that can give a reminiscent bump to those who have been to this place and the love for this place cannot be shown in a more beautiful way. ‘An Ode to Shimla’ offers lyrical poems that describe the city life, the natural beauty and the hive of activities in the city.

The book is a collection of poems that portray the beauty of Shimla on a plain canvas. My personal favourites include- The Ranunculus and Dawn and Dusk. The way the poet has addressed the flower as ‘she’ using extensive personification and Apostrophe, is really good. The idea being conveyed through the poem ‘Dawn & Dusk’ is also beautifully expressed. All the poems follow free verse and there is no particular rhyme scheme.

However, there are several punctuation errors; majority of the poems end with a semi-colon. If there is a reason behind this, then I would be glad if the poet mentions the same in the comments section. Some of the expressions also didn’t quiet seem correct to me or maybe I was not able to comprehend the emotion behind them (like gaiety’s acoustic- the apostrophe seemed extra here).

Overall, I would say that the free verses serve ‘Shimla- the city’ in mint condition on the platter.

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Review Copy: courtesy Leadstart Publishers

Book Review: Sensual Attractions by A.J Karan

Sensual Attractions

Author: A. J. Karan

Publisher: Story Mirror

Rating: 3.5/5

There is a silver line that marks the difference between good and bad writing and the author – A. J. Karan, has successfully showcased his ability to show that difference through ‘Sensual Attractions’. The book comes with a disclaimer – Not for children below 18 years of age.

With lucid narration and just the right amount of thrill, the stories emerge as quick and nice read. The best treat for me was the continuation of the first story in the end too. It is very unlikely that this happens in a short- story collection.

Read more here.

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Book Review: Love bi the way by Bhavna Arora

LOVE BI THE WAY

Author: Bhaavna Arora

Publisher: Penguin Publishers

Rating: 4.5/5

When it comes to societal issues like LGBT, child labour, excess service tax or women empowerment, there is always a voice in the wilderness. With the changed perception of accepting bisexual people as a part of our society, ‘Love bi the way’ is not only a bold reminder for people busy in wool-gathering, but is also a delightful read.

Zara and Rihana are more like soul-sisters; they are the leads who are different from each other. But opposites attract, don’t they? Rihana’s character is strong, bold and tangible. By tangible I mean the tangibility in her thoughts. And her beliefs, too, are flexible. Zara, on the other hand, is dyed in the wool. Her hale and hearty nature is something the readers can look forward to. Rihana is more like full of piss and vinegar. But both the ladies complement each other. The only trustworthy male in their lives is Tiger, their Labrador-golden Retriever- the man’s best friend. Both the characters have their good side as well as the dark side. The secrets of the past are kept under the hat by both the characters and when they feel ready to expose each other to the darkest reality of life, they discover a new pleasure and liberation.

The story of their lives moves at a comfortable pace; one will find it difficult to leave the book and go back to the salt mines. Words in this regard play a more important role. Words full of hot air would not have served the purpose, but Ms. Bhaavna chose a plot that comprises of small threads that directly reach out to the masses. The use of friendship as the building block of Zara and Rihana’s relationship is commendable. Impeccable narration, strong and clear characterization, good hold on the plot and a gripping story make this novella a bodice ripper. Nowhere did I miss the male dominance in the book.

The authoress won my heart right when I came across the very first idiom in the book. With flawless language and suitable word selection and vocabulary, the book is a good read. Yet again, Penguin outshines other publishers (I couldn’t refrain from mentioning this). However, I felt the title gave out too much information about the storyline. Along with the blurb, it was more like a blueprint of the life journey of Zara and Rihana. This could have been worked upon.

With a hopeful heart and satiated mind, I wish the authoress of ‘Love bi the way’ good luck.

This book is definitely worth all the time.

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Amazon

Review Copy: courtesy Author Paradise