Metro Diaries - Book Review

Title: Metro Diaries 

Author: Namrata

Publisher: Revelation House Books

Type: eBook

ASIN: B00UAIBAPG

Number of Pages: 162

Price: 187.25 [INR]

Genre: Romance

The Blurb:

Love is one of the most amazing feelings on this earth, one that makes you the most powerful person or the most helpless person in a split second. These stories capture those feelings of despair, longing, love, lust, desire, want, dejection and admiration to create deja vu. Hold onto your hearts as you flip through these pages and take a walk down the memory lane as "Metro Diaries" will revive your innermost feelings and imbibe in you the magic of love. Touching, amusing and deeply moving, Metro Diaries - Love Classics are tales that will hold you from start till end.

My Review:

Metro Diaries is a collection of 20 short stories, all of which are so well narrated that they leave you asking for more. The author, Namrata says that these stories are the stories she witnessed during her various trips. They are all real life incidents, which makes it all more interesting to read. Here is what you can expect in this book:

1. Once in a Lifetime: 
       Nitya, a writer, who is hurt from a past relationship, has built a wall around herself, determined to not let anyone inside. But all determination begins to waver when Ansh Malhotra starts courting her, trying his best to melt her heart. His messages surely melt the readers' heart but will Nitya give in? 

2. Then, Now and Forever:
       Ron who has been through a breakup recently with Anna, has come to pick up his grandmother. There the old lady's words and her love for her husband leaves an impact on him. 'There is only heart that could sing back the song our heart wants to listen' she says. Will Ron be able to realize it before its too late?

3. Love Thy Dreams:
       Being number one is studies as well as sports, Abhi has everyone impressed by his charms. But when Kavya arrives, he is in for some competition, for she is equally brilliant. What seeme like rivalry in the beginning soon turns into something different, due to the turn of events. This was one of my favorite stories.

4. The Wait:
       A beautiful tale of love with a shocking ending! I was wondering why Rhea had run away all through the story but the ending left me shocked. A brilliant piece of narration.

5. A Secret Revealed:
       How would you feel if you had a secret buried inside you that you cannot reveal to anyone? This story is about one such secret, very different from what you and I can think of. The journey of isolation, pain, need for acceptance and joy when it is finally found.

6. A Promise of a Lifetime:
       Ranjith was the casanova of their college and Tamanna, the shy girl. But they were always tongue tied in each other's presence, though they didn't acknowledge it. But when they meet at a friend's wedding years later, their feelings are rekindle. Will they be able to speak their heart this time? (PS: If only someone said to me what Ranjith said, I will be completely blown away ;) Loved the dialogues in this one)

7. Will You?:
       A proposal scene with loads of emotions. The way he proposes, you cannot stop yourself from begging the girl to say yes!

8. Love Beyond Words:
      As the protagonist recalls the three special days of her life with someone she felt special with, you just can't stop wondering who he was and what had happened that they weren't together anymore. I just wish there was more to this story!

9. Imperfectly Perfect:
       The definition of love explained from two different point of view. This imperfect, yet perfect love story will have you reconsider the definition of love. I especially loved scene where he will describe the praise for poetry as the praise for author.

10. A Thing Called Love:
       He was a dreamer and she was the gentle hand which nudged him in that direction. But a night had changed it all. Three years later, when he had realized his dream, he still wasn't happy because she was not there by his side. Two people, pining for each other, yet separated because of those unsaid words. I wish the ending was different! Sigh!

11. The Sole Soul Mate:
       Sometimes love is right in the reach of our arms but we fail to recognize it. We go searching for it elsewhere and that is what Saahil did before he realized that his heart belonged to the girl, his best friend, who had stood by him all these while, even through his break ups. Will he be able to confess it?

12. The Yellowed Diary:
       There are times when we fall for the wrong person. We know we are not meant to be and it would be foolishness to hold on but the heart doesn't listen. This is a similar story, where the girl is trying to forget the love from past three years but failing miserably. The description makes you feel so sorry for her. I especially loved the flower analogy in this one.

13. You, Me and Love:
       'Madly in Love' label fits perfectly for this couple. Their love for each other, even after 5 years of marriage will leave you believe in the magic of love. Some of the dialogues of this story are my favorite.

14. Unlocked:
       Sometimes, we realize the value of things or people when we lose them. Salil is at the verge of losing her, their convenience based arrangement was over. But he feels a pang when he thinks he couldn't meet her again. Would he realize her role in his life before it is too late?

15. Memories:
       This is a really short story, a letter actually, that will tug your heart strings.

16. A Message of Love:
       A beautiful story about how a letter found in a random book, makes our protagonist realize the worth of love. Loved how the story describes the equation 'You + Me = We'.

17. Her:
      When you are in love, even the shortest period of separation can feel like an eternity. One more simple yet beautiful story.

18. Love Revisited:
      Having lived in a abusive marriage for a year, Rhea has been through a lot. But there was one person who was there for her all through this, Shubh - her childhood best friend. He was there when she was broken and he was there to make her smile. But when he is about to relocate to Singapore, will Rhea be able to stop him? Will she ever confess her love? This one was my favorite story among the 20. A brilliant one.

19. The Last Letter:
      A heart warming story of 85 year Sarayudevi, who is living in the memory of her late husband. He, being an army officer, had been to fight in the war of 1947, never to return back. Sarayudevi is living ever since in his memory, holding on to the last letter he had written to her. This one is sure to move the readers.

20. You & I:
       When you really love someone, what others' think doesn't matter. This story is a perfect example of that. Zahir and Radhika, both who have suffered from a broken marriage, feel instant attraction towards each other. But Rahika is scared of committing to marriage again, having suffered enough in the previous one. But Zahir wouldn't lose her, for she is THE one for him. Where this love will take them?

      All the 20 stories have been narrated beautifully. The language is brilliant and so are the stories. You just can't help but wish there was more. I would suggest this for romance lovers. It makes a perfect read in between your busy schedule.

My Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

Until the next Review,
Keep Reading :)

Love,
Swathi :)

Guitar Girl - Book Review

Title: Guitar Girl 

Author & Publisher: Aniesha Brahma
Type: eBook
ASIN: B00TNO3QAA
Number of Pages: 272
Price: 61 [INR]
Genre: Romance




The Blurb:

Sixteen year old Rhea Shah never thought that she would find herself falling for her brother’s best friend, Joy Fernandez, when they come home from college. Because she never thought that the dork who used to go to school with them would suddenly reinvent himself in college.The only people she’s able to talk to about her absurd crush, are her best friends, Sophie and Arjav. Both of whom at first encourage, and then almost blackmail, Rhea to confess her feelings, which leaves the poor girl more muddled than ever!

Plagued with upcoming Board Examinations along with her friends’ suggestions, Rhea finds it difficult to concentrate, because she’s fallen for Joy, hook, line and sinker. In an attempt to vent to her feelings, she begins a blog, where she publishes all her songs and poems, dedicated to Joy, keeping her identity a secret.

But things do not go quite how she planned when a certain blogger named J. Fern begins to read her blog, and wishes to work with her…

Will Rhea ever confess her feelings to Joy? And will Joy find out the real identity of The Guitar Girl?

My Review:

Characters:

       Meet Rhea Shah, a 16-year-old, who develops a crush on her brother, Robbie's, best friend, Joy Fernandez. Not knowing how to get a hold on her feelings, she adopts the alias The Guitar Girl in a misguided way. Rhea cares about her two best friends, Sophie and Arjav, although the latter knows how to push her buttons. She is pretty awful at hiding her feelings.

       Meet Joy Fernandez, who is 18-year-old and is Rhea's brother's best friend, as well as Arjav's cousin. He takes on Rhea as his student, teaching her how to play the guitar, unaware that she harbours feelings for him. He can be pretty dense at times - refusing to see what is really happening right in front of his eyes. He dates a rather crazy girl in college, Rosetta, who later becomes Robbie's girlfriend.

       Meet Sophie Ghosh, Rhea's best friend in school, who discovers her secret at the beginning of the novel and keeps encouraging her to confess to Joy about it. Initially united with Rhea on the front by finding Arjav, she begins liking him more than a friend. Both she and Arjav believe in meddling with 'destiny'.

       Meet Arjav, Rhea's oldest friend, who knows her secret and wants her to tell Joy as well. He and Sophie like each other and likes to meddle with 'Fate'.

      And at last, meet Robbie Shah, Rhea's elder brother brother who has no idea that his sister has fallen for his friend. He is too preoccupied with his band and his girlfriend, Rosetta, who Joy had dated before him.

Plot:

       The story is about a school girl who falls in love with her elder brother's best friend. Joy who was a dork in school, suddenly changes in to a super hot guy when he goes to college and Rhea has a difficult time controlling her feelings. And so it is for Joy because it is an unwritten rule that one doesn't hit on their best friend's sister. Both try to hide their feelings in a way best known to them - Rhea by writing a blog under the name 'Guitar Girl' and Joy by dating Rosetta, hoping it will take his mind of Rhea. But try as they may, destiny has different plans and Rhea and Joy keep coming together in some way or other. 

       The story is about dreams, crushes, love, insecurities, friendship and college life. Will Rhea and Joy give up trying to hide their feelings for each other? Will Robbie accept their love? What happens when Joy finds out that Rhea is the Guitar Girl, whom he had considered as his confidante? Read the novel to find out more.

Things that Worked:

       The entire story was told through emails, chats and diary entries, which was a different approach and I liked it to some extent. The story line is interesting and keeps the reader engrossed. I was curious as to how the story will progress and couldn't stop reading till I finished the whole book. The story was different and made an interesting read. The characters were built in such a way that you could relate to them. I especially liked Rhea's journal entries.

Things that didn't Work:

       There were many typos, which sometimes spoiled the fun of reading. Also, few things appeared cliched like Rhea opens a blog and Joy will be the first one to comment on it! Too much coincidence? Or when they enter the Talent Hunt, Rhea knew about the death clause; she had mentioned it in a mail to Sophie but at a later point, she freaks out when she finds out about it! I mean she already knew about it, right? There were some areas like this, where some more effort was needed. 

Verdict: 

       All in all, this book was an OK read for me. This book is a quick read which will take you back to your college life. There were some doses of humor, which will keep the readers entertained. I will recommend this to teenagers especially and also to those who like to read about teen love.

My Rating: 3 / 5 Stars

Until the next review,

Keep Reading :)

Love,

Swathi :)

Crossed & Knotted - Book Review

Title: Crossed & Knotted 
Authors: Various
Publisher: Kurious Kind Media Pvt. Ltd.
ISBN: 9788192997520
Number of Pages: 255
Price: 250
Type: Composite Novel


The Blurb:

Crossed & Knotted is India’s first Composite Novel, a book written by fourteen authors in close collaboration with each other. The chapters, each a story in itself, are knotted with one another through characters, events, settings and emotions. The result is a read that criss-crosses through a multitude of emotions bringing out deep rooted human desires. They narrate tales of love and betrayal, suspense and mystery, courage and dilemma, along with hope and resilience. Read it for a taste so tantalizing, that your mind will surely be craving for more!

My Review:

       Crossed & Knotted is the India's first Composite Novel. It is a collection of 14 stories written by 14 different authors, yet there is a link between these, which makes the novel complete. Here are the 14 stories that make this novel:

1. A Curious Dalliance - Sutapa Basu
       
       The first chapter is always important, as it sets the mood of the novel and it is up to it to grab the attention of the readers and keep them engaged. Sutapa Basu did a very good job in this attempt. The story of a shy guy, Sudip, who falls prey to the plans of bold girl Megha. I loved how the story is developed, from their initial days, their marriage, Sudip's agitation and the final act which sent a chill down my spine!

2. The Diary of Joseph Varughese - Ayan Pal
       
       Shivi, daughter of Sudip, from the previous chapter takes over from here. Her obsession with a Diary she found and the diary entries itself make an interesting read. The turn of events as the chapter progresses towards the climax was another chilling moment. This one though was little unbelievable for me (Yeah! I am skeptical!)

3. The Web of Life - Sanchita Sen Das
       
      This chapter takes a leap in time and is set in a different location. It is about Siya, Shivi's friend and her life as a journalist, who goes to cover to plane crash in Kochi. The series of events that unfold make the readers' heart wrench with pain. But there is more to it - a story that Siya discovers, about the death of Varu, who came in search of his lost girlfriend Iliana. And also the story about Siya's son. All these are woven into a neat tale and this was one of the chapters that I liked.

4. The Real Fiction of Iliana Braun - Arvind Passey

       This covers more about the life of Varu and Iliana, before Iliana moved to Kochi. Their meetings, their life together at the university where Varu writes the Diary of Varyghese. It covers the mystery behind Shivi's Diary but not about what James said as the concluding lines of chapter 2. I was a little confused here.

5. A Burning Candle - Mithun Mukherjee

       A new character comes into picture here - Catherine. She meets up with Iliana, who seems to think that she was somehow Lily, the protagonist of Varu's stories. This story speaks about Catherine and Iliana's friendship before the story takes a sharp turn! The ending was a jaw drop moment for me!

6. Relics to Ruins - Avanti Sopory

       The story goes on, giving us more insight about Catherine as an individual. It also makes a link back to Sudip's family, reminding us that there will be more about them in the coming chapters. The war torn scenes of Afghan and the life there are described well. Also, there is a small story of Jameela, the brave woman of the village. Catherine's struggle and Jameela's conditions are described well.

7. Leap of Faith - Bhaswar Mukherjee

       We get to know more about Jameela and her life before she met Catherine in this chapter. Also, what happens to Ruskhana, who had disappeared in previous chapter, is narrated here. There are no loopholes left and the story progresses beautifully, engaging the readers.

8. Reclaiming Life - Anupama Jain

       A completely different setting with more new characters - Pankaj and Poorni. But still there is a link back where Dimpy (Rukhsana) comes into picture. The journey of Poorni, who was living as per Pankaj's control to a new Poorni, who is confident is brought out well. 

9. The Dragon Lady - Deepti Menon

       This one was a little hilarious and one more of my favorites. This story takes us back in time to reintroduce the characters from the previous chapters - Karuna, Pankaj and Poorni. The way the story is written leaves the readers asking for more.

10. For a Speck of a Moment - Amrit Sinha

       Binoy, the runaway child of Karuna, stars in this chapter. With his struggle to find a footing of his own and his determination, he makes a place in the hearts of readers. The tragic occurance that takes place not once but twice, leaves a deep impact.

11. To Ma & Pa, Con Amore! - Monika Nair

       As Mona Lisa starts a new journey of her life, she meets Binoy and they fall in love. But as the story progresses, you can't help but wonder if it leads to another tragic event, as it happened with Binoy before. But the story takes a different one, and ends on a happy note.

12. Look Beyond - Amar Lakshya Pawar

       Again a set of new characters are introduced and the link is given back to the plane crash that was mentioned in the 3rd chapter. This, perhaps is the shortest story of the novel.

13. Dawn at Dusk - Bhuvaneshwari Shankar

       Meena, the wife of Adithya, who died during the plane crash meets Sudip under some dire circumstances. Friendship grows slowly, which soon turns into love. The author has done a great job in steering the story towards the point from where it all began. Bringing Sudip and Shivi back was needed at this point to give a sense of oneness to the whole story.

14. The Last Act - Arpita Banerjee

       This was probably the toughest chapter to write considering  that the author had the responsibility to tie all the loose knots together and I must say, Arpita has done a splendid job. The last act that Sudip pulls out, lightens the mood in the end and thus closing the novel on a lighter note.

      All the chapters are well written and the narration is also splendid. Each chapter, though written by different authors, blends with each other smoothly, which was very important to make this one complete novel. The effort that the authors have put in behind the whole story has paid off beautifully. There were some queries that remained even after I completed reading the novel - like what about James? What happened to him? Apart from one or two such skips, the novel was great. I recommend this to those who are looking for something different to read. I must say, its not a quick read but it is worth it.

My Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars

This Tour is Hosted by 

Facebook | Website | Blog Tours | Twitter | Pinterest | Linkedin

Until the next review,

Keep Reading :)

Love,

Swathi :)