Sunday, November 18, 2012

Tree


 
Tree of thoughts grips mind
Generates ideas and
Imagination


Tree of misfortune
Traps life often, happiness
Struggles to evolve


Sometimes, even when we don’t do anything wrong, we realize that everything went wrong. We try to do something for good reasons but we get pathetic results. We try to rectify but it gets worse. Sometimes, I wonder why it happens. This is we call rotten luck perhaps. But it feels really…really bad.










Friday, November 16, 2012

Untruly Yours: by Smita Shetty




Yesterday I finished reading a new chick lit novel “Untruly Yours” by Smita Shetty. It was a free copy received by the author for an unbiased review. Thank you Smita!

“Untruly yours” tells the story of Natasha Iyer, mother of 11 years old son, wife of an over-engrossed doctor and daughter-in-law of a traditional woman, who doesn’t like her. She has everything in her life but feels lonely. She finds no spark in her marriage and expects some romance and excitement.

A call from her sister Tina, prompts her to visit India and meet her best friend Priti, suffering from a bad marriage, after long years. She visits India, against her husband’s wish, with a very handsome colleague Steve. In India, she gets to meet an old friend Veer who tries to woo her. On the other side Steve also expresses his liking towards her.

This emotional journey somehow compels her to make some tough decisions but eventually makes her realize some truths. To know more you’ll have to read the book.

“Untruly Yours” is Smita Shetty’s debut novel. As a first time author she has done an excellent job (regarding her writing skill).

The book has only 146 pages and I think it’s too quick and short for the “proper execution of the story” and eventually the story seems half-baked. Characters are identifiable but I found something missing in the definition and presentation of every character except Maya. I liked the character of Steve but he has nothing much to do with the story.

All the emotional encounters with Veer and Steve seemed abrupt and so was the ending.

Overall, “Untruly Yours” is an easy, nice and fast-paced read that you can finish it in one go. I really liked the humour. The most impressive thing was author’s writing style and I think her readers would like to read her next book for this (Of course tightly packed with a more interesting story). 

You can pick “Untruly Yours” for a light & quick read.




Saturday, November 10, 2012

Expectations



Expectations sprout
Give birth to hope, then make an
Exit silently…


Expectation is a very natural feeling. you may try hard but heart has a strong tendency to expect.

A huge smile may evolve from an expectation but generally expectations are something that gives you disappointment. You nourish your hopes delicately. you wait for something eagerly. But when you expect too much, either you get nothing or some more waiting, and it really...really feels bad.

I think it's a psychological feeling. You might have experienced that even 'Small' things received unexpectedly give immense pleasure and a 'Small' unfulfilled expectation gives disappointment. 

But, sometimes, something pleasant happens unexpectedly. You must have seen this cute advertisement. Really, kuchh unexpected mile to achchha lagta hai...





For: Haiku Heights
         Poets United
              Sunday Scribblings





Friday, November 9, 2012

Betrayal by Danielle Steel






Yesterday I finished “Betrayal by Danielle Steel”. This was a review copy sent by Random House India. Thanks to Rukun and Random Reads.

I haven’t read many books by Danielle Steel. Before this book I have read only one book authored by her and that was “Vanished”

Betrayal is a story of…..betrayal. Tallie Jones is 39 and is a very successful movie director. After two failed marriages, she lives with her boyfriend of three years, Hunt Lloyd. Her extremely efficient secretary Brigitte Parker is her best friend and cares a lot for her. Overall Tallie’s life is hectic yet blissful. At least she thinks so.

Her trusted accountant Victor Carson reveals that there has been some regular disorder in her financial records. Someone has been squandering a large amount of money in cash. Tallie has no idea about these expenses. Then who’s that? Her best friend Brigitte, who manages everything for her? Or her live-in loving partner Hunt? Or her accountant Victor himself, who has an over demanding young wife?

Tallie obviously wants to find out and this unfolds many shocking and unbelievable disclosures and her so called perfect life upends. To know more you’ll have to read the book.

Okay, what can I say about Danielle Steel? She is a big name in the world of writing and who wouldn't want to read her? But as far as I’m concerned, I didn't like two very important things in this book. 

First: The repetitiveness. In this book same things are said and explained many times in different ways. I think it disturbs the pace of the story.

Second: I didn't like the idea of multiple points of views. It somehow loosens the grip of the story as we are not supposed to know everyone’s feeling through their point of view in a suspense fiction.

Overall I would say the plot is nice and it could be a nice read for Danielle Steel fans. I’ll be back with some more Danielle Steel books. I hope to like them more. Unfortunately, Betrayal was not a 'very' interesting and engrossing read for me.




Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Tribulations of bad marriages and society: An article published in Alive




Marriage is something people call settlement. May be. Life may seem settled for someone who gets loving and caring life partner and a peaceful life. But in many cases (You can see many real life stories on television or can observe around your circle) married life is not very sweet (Or say it's bitter especially for women) and life becomes completely disturbed and troubled.

In many cases women are forced to compromise. To what extent? This question keeps hanging. Ups & downs and some normal argument are inevitable in married life but at some point suffering women must put a full stop in front of their tolerance level and learn to take some strong and wise decisions to lead the life forward peacefully. Else it could be painful or even dangerous. 

I think our society plays an important role.

I wrote an article on tribulations of bad marriage which got published in Alivemagazine (Delhi Press).














Saturday, November 3, 2012

"स्वयंवर": नीलाभ वर्मा





 इसमें कोई शंका नहीं है कि महाभारत  एक महान गाथा है। महाभारत में सैकड़ो कहानियाँ निहित हैं। कई कहानियों से हम सब भली भांति परिचित है मगर कुछ कहानियां ऐसी भी हैं जिसके बारे में हमें उतनी जानकारी नहीं है शायद।

एक नया उपन्यास "स्वयंवर" (डायमंड बुक्स द्वारा प्रकाशित) जो नीलाभ वर्मा की पहली पुस्तक है, महाभारत के अति महत्वपूर्ण पात्र भीष्म और अम्बा के संबंधों पर आधारित है। 

इतिहास के अनुसार भीष्म ने अपने भाई विचित्रवीर्य के लिए अम्बा का उसी के स्वयंवर से हरण कर लिया। परन्तु ये जानने के पश्चात् कि अम्बा शाल्व से प्रेम करती है, भीष्म ने उसे ससम्मान उसके प्रेमी के पास पहुंचा दिया मगर शाल्व ने अम्बा को अपनाने से इनकार कर दिया। दुखी हो वापस लौटकर अम्बा ने भीष्म से विवाह करने का हठ किया किन्तु ब्रह्मचर्य की प्रतिज्ञा लेनेवाले भीष्म के लिए यह असंभव था। 

अम्बा का क्रोध शाल्व की बजाय भीष्म पर निकला और अपनी अवस्था का भीष्म को ज़िम्मेदार मानते हुए अम्बा ने भीष्म के सर्वनाश की शपथ ली। कहा जाता है की महाभारत के केंद्र में एक स्त्री ही थी। माना जाता है कि वो द्रौपदी थी मगर शायद इसकी नींव पहले ही रखी जा चुकी थी और शायद वो अम्बा ही थी।

नीलाभ वर्मा का  धार्मिक  प्रसंगों का ज्ञान अद्भुत है।यद्यपि स्वयंवर इनकी  पहली पुस्तक है, उनकी लेखन शैली काफी मंझी  हुई लगती है।मेरे ख्याल से भीष्म महाभारत के सबसे प्रभावशाली पात्र है और ये मेरे इस पुस्तक की ओर आकर्षित होने की एक वज़ह है।  स्वयंवर की कहानी पौराणिक कथा पर आधारित होने के बावजूद मुझे थोड़ी अलग लगी।  इस किताब के संवाद अच्छे और स्वाभाविक है। मेरा विश्वास है की अगर आप धार्मिक कहानियों को पसंद करते है तो आपको ये किताब निश्चिततौर पर पसंद आएगी। 

Overall, if you like mythological fiction and you can read Hindi, then Swayamvar could be an interesting and different read. A nicely written novel indeed! Go grab it!:)