Pens and Places

  “Eat Pray Love” will first wink at you to make you believe that it’s a normal tale of finding peace within. But it has so much. So much of unanswered questions, so much of self-realizations, so much of carrying guilt throughout life. But believe me, no matter if you love it or hate it, you will surely agree to think in a different way after reading this gem. I will first tell you my experience. It’s not like I was astonished after reading her journey, but there was something very unparalleled process of going with the flow. Gilbert was a normal girl, having everything in life and still fool enough to neglect the importance of stability. So are we, aren’t we? She too fell into the trap of rebound pleasure and again got trapped in the spiral of heartbreaks. She was not sure of the decisions of traveling to different countries, and still made a giant leap towards her unprocessed outcomes. She had experienced an abundance of life through her expedition to Italy, India and Indonesia. ...

  Imagine when you think about your universe as the unreal creation by some non-existential body, whom you don’t even know and understand, whom you never believe but tend to follow the same pattern every time. You must be thrilled about the science behind the unfathomable faith.  We often hear about the evergreen tales of conflicts between good and evil. Multi Realm is definitely the complete package of those narrations in upgraded ways. It reflects the mysteries hidden behind the unacknowledged happenings of the world.  This book is totally a spiraled series of discoveries by the author Arjuna. He sets the bar high with a fictional aroma of prompts and characters. The details through which he described every depth of scenes and situational delicacies are commendable. He not only related the mythological connections of the real world, but also merged it with fabricated imaginations like fine wine. What I appreciated the most is the mixture of science fiction with mythical...

I started this book, thinking of some different perspectives it will offer me as an audience. But while reading and interpreting the gist of everything, I somehow lost my pace. I may have to re-read it again to fully grasp the essence but whatever I grasped after reading it once is faded and unexplored I guess. Undoubtedly, this is a phenomenal take by the author Ocean Vuong on war, violence, migration, language barrier, and unreal love experiences. This book covers the part of an innocence with the haunting shadows. On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous offers a subtle understanding of the bond between a son and a mother. It offers an unknown saying of language dependencies over visual telepathy. It offers the tragedies of immigrants. It offers a slight tint of love under rainbowy vows. It offers the ghostly dreams of many unheard stories. It offers an irrelevant letter from a son to his mother in the strangest of ways.  I loved the delicacies of the parts, where Ocean has garnished wi...

Remember the time when people used to maintain diary entries for many useful facts, the important recipes to carry on through the generations, some prerequisites for the prep of any cultural functions, and many more personal tricks to entertain others in case of emergencies. Just like those times of keepers, author Teja Lele has introduced an upgraded version of those times in the form of hacks. This book “ Live smart - 100 hacks for a healthier and happier life” is a mixture of various foundations, happening in day to day activities. The idea of introducing this book to the world came to the author because of the difficult times of covid times as she quotes - “The year 2020 made it necessary”.   Talking about the contents, for starters the author has described the necessity of this book. She particularly picks up the test called “Basic Survival Skill Quiz” for the readers and analyzes them on the basis of their knowledge. She states how to use this book, and why you need this book...

  It feels strange when you start the story with blooming flowers and memories, but end the note with a wishful prayer. This book is full of graphics. And the magical land. And the deadly ending. Khaled Hosseini never disappoints.

I am blank, lost in no space and yet have piles of thoughts. I want to bow down to The Legend - Geetanjali Shree for creating a masterpiece and bringing to this world, where readers are dying to encounter an unusual art, and writers are still fantasizing to carve out more and more. This book consists of everything. It’s a bible of human, their emotions, their traumas, their livelihood, their ideas on logistic politics and countries, their actions on societal norms, their intuitions on boundaries of families and land, their changing constants of age factors, their last wishes, their colonial urge to survive and their inhuman tendency to become human. This piece of work is assorted in three platonic parts. Parts where nothing makes sense, but at the end, you will regret why this ended so soon.  In the first section of narration, the author has described the simplest bitter-sweet form of chaos among many faces of one family. Amma, the superstar of this tale, was depressed because she ...

This rendition of mythological story interpretation of Pandu’s other queen is quite unusual. I have read about Mahabharata characters through a few reinterpretations in the book “Jaya” by Devdutt Pattanaik and “The Palace of Illusions” by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. But this book is just a wrap-up synopsis of one of the under-shadowed persona from the Kuru dynasty. The story revolves around Pandu’s second queen Madri. Author has perfectly showcased the background of the King Shibi and highlighted his generosity and selflessness. There’s a very simple representation of Madri’s eternal love for Pandu, and the keen interest to be his favorite wife. This story takes numerous twists and turns in terms of women’s desires and Kingdom’s responsibilities.  I also liked the fact that the author has emphasized on women’s empowerment topics via a very thin line of interrogative sentences. Some are as follows: “I developed a dislike for Bhishma. Who was he to decide the fate of three maidens?” ...

  I am literally amazed by the presentation skills in a mere few pages about a dog's point of view. This book is a contrasting take on dog’s life decisions, possessed by us - the humans! Story revolves around a dog, Steve, and his perpetual experiences. Narration is also done by Steve, which makes his apologue more interesting and impactful. He has curated a mixed version of human relationship and his cognition.  While reading at first, I was quite dodgy about the generous fact of this genre, as there are already many out there like Dog’s Purpose, Jonathan unleashed etc. But this story has something different to hit the audience quickly. How an abandoned bastard dog is kept in shelters, how fate is responsible for the chosen families, how they have to adapt to the new home and its culture, how they experience new things beyond their expertise, how predefined destinies bind them in stereotypes, and how after everything, they have to encircle the same cycle all along. The story ...

  “Summers and Springs” is the perfect example of hidden love and pain. Author has shared her feelings through scripted words and emotions in her book. This book consists of poems, based on thoughtful imaginations of existence, heartfelt relationships, caressed self love, suffocating pain, soulful urge of love, mystical life, decisions of time and author’s perspective of sentiments. It is a walkthrough of everything for those who instantly connect with life.  In my opinion, the author has penned down her orientation of feelings in the easiest way possible. The use of words and aptness of title of the book go hand in hand.  I recommend this book for a warm-short-read sort of reader. 

  This book has my soul. Everything, from pictures to the lines, is so perfectly illustrated here that nothing can beat the essence of innocence and bravery, both at the same time.  There are only 4 characters in this story, but the impact it has created is wholesome. You will be amazed with every page and its mashed continuity to the next page, like every theme will show you a mirror to life's journey. Also, the idea of scribbling handwriting to showcase more effect is a commendable move by the author. The concept of friendship between strange species and with strange situations has my heart. This book is a symbol of hope and true companionship. I loved the pictures and specially few dialogues, which really grabbed my attention: -”Asking for help is not giving up” -”When the big things feel out of control, focus on what you love right under your nose” - “Don't measure how valuable you are by the way you are treated.” This book will surely boost your morale, irrespective of ag...

  This book shows us the different perspectives on the story of  Shakuntala and Dushyant, and Shakuntala’s parents - Menaka and Vishwamitra.   The fun fact is the elaboration of the story by the author in her style. She has molded the entire narration in a quite surreal way. We will get to know the backstory of Shakuntala’s existence. We will see how the penance played a major role in so many things on earth. The unsung sacrifice of heaven’s apsara, in this case Menaka, showed a contrary side of emotions and luxury.  Whole story revolved around two main characters - Shakuntala and Menaka, and their respective stories. Both of them eventually acknowledged the same purpose and their conclusions.  Personally, I liked vivid imagery created amidst all chaos happening in the characters’ lives. The description of beauty of earth, the lavishness of heaven, and the battle of common man and Gods - everything was perfectly synced with narrative closures. As I am biased to ...

Tight lipped and curious as always, I wait for you. For you to come and just touch me for a while, I will predict your day’s bygones or at least , let you barf out. I'll let you scribble down everything. But wait, first let me breathe for a minute. I was exhausted,  confined in the closet. My pages are crisp in all seasons, but sometimes, monsoons make my world humid. I want to scream out of this room, this rugged cover or away from you. Oh sorry, I expressed more than you! Ok, go on, tell me more.. … Yes, I know about your unstitched kurta, and torn bookmarks. Yes, I have heard about switching stories from becoming a crush to love of your life to being stranger.  Yes, I cried with you last time Yes, I make fun of your fashion all day Yes, I enjoyed your vacation a little more. … Do I know you enough? Is there anything left? Are we seriously bros? Do you even know me? … Yes, I too want to leave this world! … Good night! This post is a part of Blogchatter Blog Hop  #Blogch...

There’s always a unique take in writing novels when it comes to different authors. Some find inspiration through nature, some through lifestyles, some through history, but Murakami has shown a different panoramic view when it comes to writing for him. “What I talk about when I talk about running” is a perfect illustration of passion which can drive a person to learn through experiences. Title of this book is taken from the title of a short-story collection by Raymond Carver. But the content of this book is totally personal, and is written in the form of a memoir. Author has explained the diversity of writing patterns, and in his case, is running. He has considered running and writing, both a marathon of life. Whole narration is a detailed and inspirational journey of many marathons he has prepared and participated in. I love the fact that he literally examined the common man’s mind while running. It's nothing but a void, full of unnecessary questions and observations. He also has p...

“Remember, there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”  -Scott Adams My childhood was all about my paternal grandparents, in my case, they were my legal parents. Giving a brief summary on this instance, my grandparents didn’t have any girl child, and when I was born, titled as a first female heir of their next-to-next generation, they immediately adopted me with abundant blessings and love. So, for me I guess the kindness gene is legally inhibited on papers as well. If I talk about the effects of those ripples, it is undoubtedly the upbringing and the surroundings we live in. This phenomenon is just the consequences of communication and the customs of each household. I can’t even count how many traits I have taken from them, be it as their daily routines, their approach to life’s problems and decisions, their social etiquettes, their response to growth and changes, their ability to support in need, their relationship status, th...

  This human society and the customized world of rules have chained an age of abundant theories and their consequences on general spectators.  Biting nails amidst the crowded school assembly, a girl is punished for violating the cleanliness rule and is slapped in front of her friends and strangers. She is referred to as BAD! Little did anyone know, she is suffering from depression and surrounded with lots of people makes her unendurable from biting nails. From her counselor's perspective, she is considered NOT BAD! If you are a morning person, follow all mechanical rules and obey elders, irrespective of their narrow-minded point of view, do a stable job, and most importantly, never complain of the situations around you, then you can be a star performer for the society and will be praised for being a GOOD person. But giving a healthy point of view to societal norms, chasing something different from the mundane format of working culture, and asking for help in need will make you...