Book Review - The Seventh Cup by Nitesh Kumar Jain

Book Name: The Seventh Cup

Author: Nitesh Kumar Jain

Publisher: Cyberwit.net

Story in a nutshell: 

'The Seventh Cup' - what does this title tell you? The title is itself a mystery. Isn't it? When I heard about this book,  all I wondered was what made the author name it as 'The Seventh Cup'. I started reading this book with one objective in my mind- why 'The Seventh Cup'? The story begins  with 'Chapter 0' ( A plus point- I like it when authors name/number chapters in a unique way) and narrates an incident that is bound to leave you with numerous questions.

As you read the further chapters, you'll be finding yourself more and more engrossed in the story. The story is about Avinash and Verona. It is the story of love that Avinash feels for Verona. But is forced to keep it to himself. Verona is in love with Kevin. Few months later, Verona goes missing and her missing case is reported at the police station. Detectives are hired to find the missing persons all over the state.

Are the detectives able to find the girl? Who helps them unreveal this missing case?

Review: 

The Seventh Cup  has an excellent plot and good characterisation. The narration has been done in third person narrative. The lucid language and simple narration makes the reading good experience. There is a certain kind of ease that the reader is sure to feel. The flow of incidents in the beginning of the story might confuse the readers but, this confusion is also cleared as you proceed further.

The mystery/thrill element is perfectly maintained. The question 'What will happen next?' will remain in the minds of the reader at the turn of every page. The reader will surely be hooked on to this story. The climax remains a shocking one (Yeah, it can give goosebumps too).

Likes: 

The mystery factor

Dislikes:  

The flow of events. (The confusion in the beginning could be averted )

I rate 'The Seventh Cup' with 3.5/5 stars 

Buy this mystery on Amazon.

Review - Boltu by Debaprasad Mukherjee

Book Name: Boltu

Author: Debaprasad Mukherjee

Publisher: Petals Publishers and Distributers

Price: Rs. 275

Blurb: 

"So you don't like mysteries. Isn't it?" Fotu-Babu was outrageous all of a sudden. "Then listen to it straightaway you son-of -a-bitch. You are not my son. You are the product of a heinous act of your mother and what a whore she is!" Boltu felt his body going limp.

Boltu was in his late teens when he discovered this rancorous truth of his life. By that time, he had already been an antisocial, an outlaw and had been in bad company; but there was a subtle difference -  he was a dreamer, he was a tender lover, he could sing and he had a true friend in Madhab. He wished to do something worthwhile; yet he lacked direction. Would Boltu keep drifting aimlessly? Or would he find his destination? Whether the destination would be worth its salt?

Story in a nutshell: 

Boltu is a story of a young boy in his twenties. They say the character and behaviour of a person is known by the company he keeps. Boltu gets himself involved with wrong people and ruins his life. He indulges himself in pick-pocketing and thievery.

Boltu realises about his sinfull existence from his father one fine day. He gets disturbed at the very thought of being a bastard. He wonders whether Poly would accept him after knowing his story. He leaves his home in anger and chalks out a theft along with his friends. Everything happens according to their plan until the owner of the house gets sick. No matter how hard Boltu tries; he couldn't move away from the place leaving the man in the faws of death. He attends to him and his life changes for good. What good does life offer him? Does Poly accept him? Does Boltu find a meaning to his life?

Review: The simplicity of this story touches the readers heart. You pick up the book to read and the very next moment Boltu finds a place in your heart. He is portrayed as a bad person in the beginning but there is some innocense in him which makes you feel compassion for Boltu.

Simple and engaging, third person narration, well crafted plot and perfect characterisation makes Boltu an awesome read. You feel connected to the characters. The story of Boltu is that of a common boy and it steals your heart.

Some of the lessons which Boltu and his story teaches you are:-

• Your current situation is a temporary one. Your past must never define you and your future must never scare you.
• There is nothing called courage. It is rightly said that courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph over it.
• Letting go never means you don't love the person anymore. It means you love them enough not to see them suffer.
• Life is about 2 D's -Determination and Dedication

I rate:

Cover: 3/5

Characters: 3.5/5

Story: 3.5/5

Overall, I rate Boltu with 4/5 stars.

You can buy your copies on Amazon.

Book Review- A Broken Man by Akash Verma

Book Name: A Broken Man

Author: Akash Verma

Publisher: Sristi Publishers and Distributors

Price: Rs. 195

Blurb:

Take a deep breath before you are born here, my child!

You take birth in a land where i struggled, gave it my sweat and blood. A land that I thought belnged to me... unbridled, uncompromising.

Krishna is a Dalit boy from Bihar who struggles to overthrow the chains that hold him back. Chhavi is a high caste Brahman girl fighting for the rights of others, propagating equality in a politically charged Lucknow University campus. After Krishna saves Chhavi from getting torched during a protest against reservation, love slowly blossoms, only to be ruthlessly crushed by a society that thrives on divisions of caste and religion. From student politics in Lucknow to the interiors of Bihar,from the coridors of power to the Glitz of media and flim industry in Mumbai.

A Broken Man is the quest of a deprived Krishna to redeem hope from despair, love from seperation and success out of repeated failures. From the best selling author of It happened that Night and The Three Times Loser, this is a story that reinforces our faith in what love can accomplish as it pushes us to achieve tha impossible, making us tap our true inner potential.

Story in a nutshell:

A Dalit boy falls in love with a rrich Brahman girl. They confess their love for each other and have a lovey-dovey time together until the very day the girls father learns about them. The girl needs to make a choice. She chooses her father and the boy is left heartbroken.The boy leaves the town and arrives to Mumbai in order to start his life again. Is he successful? Does he forget the girl?

Review:

'A Broken Man' appeared to me as the same old wine packed in a new bottle. The overall plot appears to be very common and predictable. Its just a few incidents here and there which adds flavor to this common delicacy. But the story isn't upto that mark. The narration is in third person narrative and is done quite well. The flow of the events have been smooth. There aren't any chances of confusion in readers mind. The story teaches you a few lessons for life. It is inspirational in one way.

Likes: 

• The cover
• The small lessons which the story gives you.
• Krishna's struggle and his success.

I rate:

Cover: 3.5/5

Characters: 3/5

Story: 2/5

My overall rating for A Broken Man is  2.5/5 stars.

This novel is available online. You can buy it here.

Book Review - Ponytail-The Love for Revenge by Pradip Chauhan

Book Name: Ponytail - The Love for Revenge

Author: Pradip Chauhan

Publisher: HRC Publisher

Price: Rs. 49

Blurb: 

Ponytail is the story of a man, who has spent his life for making money and becoming powerful. He has his own motives of life and to achieve his goals, he falls in love, that changes his life...

Story in nutshell:  

'Ponytail-The Love for Revenge' is divided into three sections. The story starts off as a common man's story and then, takes a drastic turn. It is a story of love that blooms in office- in short office romance. Love can happen to anyone and at any place, under any circumstances. A similar thing happens between Tapasya and Prabuddh, her boss. They confess their love for each other and very soon, get married. Meanwhile, Prabuddh's business, Ponytail gets extraordinary successful and ties up with a huge business firm. This tie-up brings Kaumudi in thier lives. Things dont remain the same with Kaumudi's arrival. What are the changes that are brought to their lives? Why is the story titled "Ponytail-The Love for Revenge"?

Review:  

'Ponytail-The Love for Revenge'  is about office romance. As soon as you read, the first few pages you can very well predict the story. With some thoughts in mind, I proceeded with my reading. Yes,  was disappointed. However, I feel that the story grabbed my attention towards the end. (A major shock! You can also term it to be a shocking surprise.) The end of this story changed my outlook towards the book.

The cover and the title do not go well with the story. The narration has been simple and comprehensible. The flow of events have been done appropriately.

The story talks about Prabuddh's love for Tapasya and also for Kaumudi. Prabuddh also feels attracted towards Amita. You will find mentions of Prabuddh's ponytail and his company, Ponytail almost on every 5th page.(It bored the reader in me.)

Suggestions: 

The narration could have been done in a better way.

The cover of the book doesnot have any relation neither with the title nor with the story. Changing it would be a better option.

Overall 'Ponytail-The Love for Revenge'  is a one time read!

I rate:

Cover: 1/5

Characters: 2.5/5

Story: 2.5/5

On the whole, I rate Ponytail - The Love for Revenge with 2.5/5 stars.

You can buy your copies on Amazon.

 

Book Review- From Where I See by Ajay Yadav

Book Name: From Where I See

Author: Ajay Yadav

Publisher: Lifi Publications

Price: Rs. 300

Blurb:

Ajay meets his childhood friend Shruti on a social networking site. He finds her struggling ith intrapersonal, interpersonal, inter-social and inter-religious conflicts. Eventually, the conflicts killed her. Police could solve the case but will it prevent hundreds of Shrutis from getting killed? How long will we aim 'who' killed, more important is to find out 'what' killed. Till we don't address this issue many Shrutis will keep on getting killed. We need to cure the disease not only the symptoms.

This book is an effort of the author to find the root cause and probable remedies of these conflicts, exploration of hundreds of pertinent questions like "Why in one religion it becomes so easy to get volunteers to blow themselves up and others for the sake of religion? Does the religion divide or unite? Have the immature and wrong interpretations of female emancipation led to 13 times rise in divorce rates in last 5 years?"

It's not only a book, it's the path or a revolution, it's a journey towards a Utopian world. If you are open minded, have courage to accept truth and have a desire to change the world; then be a part of the change. 

Let's take our first step to build a road to this Utopian dream.

Review:

The very first chapter of this novel takes you to the police station and you learn that the protagonist's friend is dead. A series of events follow up where in the protagonist talks about his relationship with his friend, her life, her behaviour and many other related things. Ultimately, towards the end the case is solved.

The story seemed interesting to me in the beginning but turned boring somewhere from chapter 12. It appeared like a history lesson to me. The narration has remained awesome throughout the 400 pages. There have been many incidents which gives food for thought and also, some lessons for life.

Overall, From Where I See can be termed as a book which will make you think and counterquestion the society we live in and the rules that we follow.

I rate:

Cover: 3/5

Story: 3/5

My overall rating for From Where I See is 3/5 stars.

You can book your copies on Amazon here!